A new acute hospital Advance Care Planning and ReSPECT pathway for adults is being launched across South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw to support earlier, more consistent and more personalised conversations about future care.

The pathway has been designed to help clinical teams identify patients who may benefit from Advance Care Planning discussions and ensure ReSPECT plans are developed, documented and communicated more effectively.

The approach recognises that many patients admitted to hospital are living with increasing frailty, deteriorating health or serious illness.

The pathway encourages teams to:

  • Ask and check whether a patient already has a ReSPECT plan or Advance Care Plan
  • Recognise when discussions may be appropriate
  • Support earlier consultant involvement
  • Improve documentation and communication
  • Ensure plans are reviewed and shared during discharge planning

The Advance Care Planning and ReSPECT pathway for adults during an acute admission is available here: 

Advance_Care_Planning_and_ReSPECT_for_adults_during_an_acute_admission.v6.pdf

 

ACP pathway.jpg

SPICT
SPICT helps staff identify people with one or more general indicators of poor or deteriorating health and signs of life shortening conditions for a palliative care review and future care planning.

SPICT looks for changes in health, increasing burden of illness, and more care needs. Earlier identification for palliative care helps people live as well as possible for years rather than months. People need optimal treatment of their health conditions based on realistic, available options and what matters to them as part of holistic palliative care and future care planning.

The tool can be downloaded here: SPICT tool

 

ReSPECT - example form 


Poster

A printable poster which acts as a quick guide through the pathway is available here: 

ACP_and_respect_poster.pdf 

ACP poster.jpg

ReSPECT: Promoting person centred planning and emergency care training 
This course was developed by subject matter experts and is designed for health and care staff who read and follow plans in their roles, as well as those responsible for guiding ReSPECT conversations and writing plans. 

Access the training here

 

'Michael' - Care in the last years of life AI training module 

This training module is a realistic clinical conversation with a patient who has a worsening long-term condition and has been admitted to hospital again after further deterioration. In this scenario, your role is to lead a sensitive and supportive discussion about future care. This includes exploring Advanced Care Planning and introducing ReSPECT, where appropriate. 

Access the training here 

Advance Care Planning Pathway introduction