Words by Smiley Team
We all hope that, when we reach the end of our lives, it happens in friendly and comforting surroundings. Working to ensure this remains the case for as many people as possible, end-of-life charity Marie Curie has partnered with the Royal College of GPs (RCGP) to update their “daffodil standards”. The set of guidelines helps carers and health workers to provide the best support possible to people at the end of their lives.
Marie Curie joined forces with GPs, members of the multi-disciplinary practice team and other relevant care providers, to create the guidelines. Aimed at people in care homes, they are designed to support and advise professionals with the end-of-life care process.
Dr Catherine Millington-Sanders, RCGP and Marie Curie national clinical champion for end-of-life care said: "All patients who require palliative and end of life care are vulnerable, but those who live in care homes are some of our most vulnerable, which is why Marie Curie and the RCGP have created a focus of the Daffodil Standards, tailored to their needs, and the needs of their family members.”
Ian Turner, executive chair of the Registered Nursing Home Association, added: “Care Homes will wish to work with their clinical lead and other GP’s to use the daffodil standard to encourage more personalised care for their residents. I therefore welcome the introduction of this standard and look forward to its widespread implementation across the UK.”
Covid-19 has put an added burden on nurses and health professionals, with an extraordinary emotional and physical toll. RCGP and Marie Curie offer a wide range of support and information for carers and healthcare professionals to help them carry out their work to the best of their abilities in spite of this difficult period.
Working to improve care for patients, the RCGP is a network of over 53,000 family doctors who encourage the highest standards of medical care and serve as the voice of GPs on education, training, research and clinical standards.
Collaborating with the RCGP on a range of projects that support people near the end of their lives, Marie Curie is the UK’s leading charity dedicated to end-of-life care. Their services include nursing and hospice care, a free support line and a wealth of information about dying, death and bereavement.
You can support their cause by donating to Marie Curie via their website. £20 could pay for one hour of quality nursing care for someone near the end of their life, and £180 could provide nine hours of support throughout the night.
For more information visit mariecurie.org.uk .
