Case study:

06 July 2007

Information booklet for patients, relatives and friends in Chelsea and Westminster Hospital

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Key points

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Chelsea and Westminster Hospital has produced a booklet to help prepare patients, relatives and friends for an impending death.

When someone is dying was introduced at the same time as the Liverpool Care Pathway for the dying and seeks to improve the information about the last days and hours of life.

Written by members of the Liverpool Care Pathway steering group, the information is locally relevant but it also discusses the physical process of dying to better prepare those involved for an impending death.

Although no formal evaluation has taken place, informal evaluation and anecdotal evidence from staff members has been very positive.

Staff feel it helps to reinforce the verbal information they give to relatives.

The booklet has also served to prompt and anticipate questions that relatives may have about end of life issues.

A steering group made up of clinical and management staff as well as a patient user representative oversaw the production of the booklet while The Friends of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital agreed to fund the initial print run of 2,000 copies.

Writing the booklet was time-consuming.

Lengthy discussions took place at the steering group meetings about its title and there was some anxiety about the sensitivity with which the information needed to be delivered.

The patient user representative on the steering group was invaluable and helped to pitch the information at the right level.

The booklet is currently available in all adult wards.

It is also planned to produce a similar booklet with some adaptations for use in neonatal intensive care.

There are some issues that still have to be resolved. The booklet needs to be reviewed at least twice a year to ensure the information is up to date.

Meanwhile funds will need to be identified in the next three to six months for additional copies of the booklet.

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