Agenda item - A Good Send-off'? Patients' and families' Experiences of End of Life Care Report Response, March 2021

Joint report of the Head of Integration, Clinical Lead, Brighton and Hove CCG and Manager, Community Services, Brighton and Hove CCG (copy attached)

RESOLVED – That the Board notes the update from Brighton and Hove CCG on responding to the Healthwatch report “A Good Send-off?”

57.1    The Board considered a joint report of the Head of Integration, Clinical Lead and Manager, Community Services at the CCG prepared in response to the Healthwatch report entitled “A Good Send Off” which had been published in September 2020 which had reported on the experiences of people receiving end of life care at the Royal Sussex County Hospital.

57.2    Healthwatch had talked to 15 patients on the Oncology Ward at the Royal Sussex County Hospital about their discharge from hospital between November 2019 and January 2020 and followed up with them once discharged. Though a relatively small sample of patients, many issues emerged. The report had suggested that End of Life care was not found to be a dignified and well-arranged experience for many, and the sensitivity and dignity of individual care planning that was expected was not always provided. Healthwatch’s recommendations were accepted in full by the NHS with a pledge to improve the care pathway and correct elements of personal insensitivity and absence of coordinated planning that were found. Central to this ongoing development. These actions also helped inform the ‘dying well’ element of Brighton & Hove Joint Health and Well-being strategy, with further engagement supporting the need to develop End of Life care. An update on the response to these recommendations is now being presented to the Brighton and Hove Health and Well-being Board at their request.

57.3    Following the initial report Brighton and Hove CCG had reviewed the recommendations in conjunction with Brighton and Sussex Hospital Trust (BSUH), Brighton and Hove City Council (BHCC), and Healthwatch and developed a response plan. Since the publication of the ‘A Good Send-off?’ report, the Brighton and Hove healthcare system has actively developed support around end of life patients, with a focus on improving personalised care planning and keeping people out of hospital. The impact of the Covid 19 pandemic both in terms of the immediate impact and potential longer-term implications and learning have been There has been input into both this paper and the review of actions in response to the Healthwatch report from Brighton and Hove City Council and Brighton and Sussex Hospital Trust as well as Brighton and Hove CCG.

57.4    A presentation was given detailing the  work which had been undertaken and outlining the given and David Liley of Healthwatch stated that Healthwatch had welcomed the  approach which had been taken by the CCG in addressing the issues which had been raised.

57.5    RESOLVED – That the Board notes the update from Brighton and Hove CCG on responding to the Healthwatch report “A Good Send-off?”