Engagement
The end of life care project was clinically-led and has involved experts from a range of healthcare agencies that work with people who are coming to the end of their lives.
Clinically-led
The clinical lead for the project was Rob George, a palliative care consultant at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.
Teresa Tate was previously the joint clinical lead for the project. Dr Tate works at Barts and the London NHS Trust and is the medical director for Marie Curie Cancer Care.
The initial work in 2007 was led by Professor Sir Cyril Chantler, who chaired an end of life care working group on behalf of NHS London. This group consisted of Mike Richards, the national clinical director for cancer and end of life care, Tom Hughes-Hallet of Marie Curie Cancer Care and many other key figures from PCTs, local authorities, national charities and other relevant organisations.
The people currently involved and those previously working on this area believe passionately in the importance of providing a high standard of end of life care and are intent on improving services to ensure that the aspirations of the project become a reality.
What people are saying
“People at the end of life often need support and care from a number of different services, but there is no consistent approach to organising this complex care. Too often services react slowly to a patient’s needs that could easily have been predicted. Better planning is needed to ensure help arrives at the right time to provide comfort and services that the patient has chosen.” Cyril Chantler, chair of Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children and of the King’s Fund
“We very much share the aims of raising standards of care, improving the experience of patients and their families and enabling far more people to die in the place they choose.” Help the Aged, London
