Advance Care Planning 

 

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Whatever stage you are at in life, it can be helpful to plan for the future.

Planning ahead can make things easier for your loved ones by letting them know what you want at the end, in turn making it more likely that your wishes are understood and followed in the future.

It can also mean you have more control over any treatment and care you receive.

Discussing and writing down your wishes, preferences and goals now means the people close to you, and those involved in your care, will be better able to support you in the future.

 

What is Advance Care Planning

It is a voluntary process which gives you the opportunity to talk to family and friends and ensures you have a voice.

If you are living with an illness, there could be times when you are not well enough to make decisions about things like treatment plans.  For anyone making decisions for you, it is useful to have as much information as possible and to understand what is important to you.

 

Talking about Advance Care Planning

Your surgery healthcare professionals or Marie Curie companions can talk you through things like your preferences, wishes, beliefs, values and feelings.

  • What makes you ‘you’?
  • Who are the most important people in your life?
  • Do you have any dislikes or aversions?
  • Where would you like to be cared for in the future?
  • Your personal goals or wishes.
  • Treatments or interventions you might want to refuse.
  • Types of decisions that may need to be made about your care and treatment in the future.
  • Who you would want to make decisions for you if at any point you cannot make them yourself.
  • A lasting power of attorney for health and social care.
 

What Advance Care Planning does not cover?

Although this can help you think about your will, this is not a will writing service.

Similarly, it can help you think about things like ‘advance decisions to refuse treatment’ (ADRT) and ‘do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation’ (DNACPR) decisions, but these will need to be arranged directly with your surgery healthcare team should you choose to do so.

 

Next Steps

If you are interested to know more and would like to talk about Advance Care Planning, speak to your GP or a member of our surgery team.  They can put you in touch with someone to support you with your Advance Care Plan, such as the Marie Curie companion service.

Your wishes can then be documented in your Advance Care Plan for you to keep and share.

 

Treatment Escalation Plan (TEP)

A Treatment Escalation Plan (TEP) guides your healthcare team in making decisions regarding your care and treatment where decisions need to be made quickly and you are not well enough to speak for yourself.

You may already have an Advance Care Plan to record important decisions should you become ill, for example funeral arrangements, financial plans, etc.

A TEP is part of this and relates only to medical care and treatment.

 

Why do I need a TEP?

In an emergency, health or care professionals may have to make rapid decisions regarding your treatment, because you may not be well enough to discuss and make choices.  

A TEP empowers you to guide on the treatments you would or would not want to be considered for.

This document is advisory.  The doctor and team treating you will need to make decisions based on your clinical condition at the time, but knowing your wishes will be extremely helpful.

A TEP will cover:

  • Should I go to hospital or not?  If not, what would your care plan be?
  • Support arrangements available for you at home.
  • Some specific treatments you do or do not want to have, for example supported breathing options, etc.

You will be given a copy of your TEP document to keep in a safe place at home and share with any family, friends or representatives you wish to be aware of your decisions.

Your TEP will be recorded in your medical notes and made available to health and care staff when needed.

 

Can I Change a TEP?

As things change for you, so can your TEP, and you should review this regularly.

As your healthcare needs increase, the plan helps you think about what matters to you, making sure you understand what treatments your healthcare team would be able to offer you.

 

Keep a Copy Handy

You should keep a copy of your TEP to be immediately available to healthcare professionals called to help you in an emergency, whether you are at home or being cared for elsewhere.

Ambulance crews, out-of-hours doctors, care home and hospital staff will then be able to make decisions in line with your wishes if they are able to see your TEP form in an emergency.

Some people keep it in a prominent place such as a fridge door or kitchen noticeboard.

 

Useful Information and Contacts

Your Advance Care Plan and TEP should be reviewed regularly.
If you have appointed a Lasting Power of Attorney for Health and Welfare, make sure they are aware of your Advance Care Plan and TEP.

 

Lasting Power of Attorney

For information to make, register or end a Lasting Power of Attorney, visit the government's website

 

Making a Will

For information on writing a will and making sure this is legal please visit the government's website

 

Compassion In Dying

We want you to be in control of your end-of-life decisions. Because there is no-one better to make them. Please visit the Compassion In Dying website for more information

 

Marie Curie