This is an extract from a health publication in the UK, what do you
think of these recommendations and how do they differ to that afforded
where you live?

QUOTE:

"The RCGP has launched a new strategy for end of life care this week,
giving GPs a central role in the radical upgrading of patient
services.
Prof Keri Thomas: changing demographic profiles mean current health
and social care services are ill prepared.

Recommendations include greater integration with the QOF, more GP
involvement in care homes and improved out-of-hours palliative care
(see box below).

Author of the report Professor Keri Thomas said end of life care was
part of the core business of general practice but new challenges meant
that a more consistent, systematic approach was required across
primary care.

With dramatically changing demographic profiles, changing illness
patterns and more protracted end of life and dying stages, she said
current health and social care services were ill prepared and unready
to fully meet patient needs.

‘Despite recent developments and many areas of good practice, patients
still face a lottery of inconsistent, sometimes sub-optimal care. No-
one is better suited to provide excellence of care than the GP and the
primary care team. GPs are ideally placed to meet this challenge, but
must be supported to do this.'

The RCGP has established an End of Life Care Working Group for three
years to develop and implement policies relevant to all four nations
of the UK.

Professor Thomas, the RCGP clinical champion in end of life care, said
the strategy would aim to build on the current Gold Standard
Framework, refine educational resources, support research in to best
practice and strengthen team-working with nurses.

‘Care of the dying is a litmus test for the health service, and
challenges general practice to respond with the best that the
profession has to offer - clinical expertise, considered
professionalism, personalised care and human compassion.

‘The importance of the holistic role of the GP is poised to come into
its own in a way never previously encountered.'

Key points of the new strategy

    * Build on the Gold Standards Framework
    * Integrate GSF principles and activity within QOF
    * Integrate end of life care into all GP learning
    * More GP involvement and GPSIs in care homes
    * Advanced care planning to become routine
    * Improve out-of-hours palliative care"

End of quote