End-of-life care

Dying is the one certain thing in life – we will all die. Some people unexpectedly as a result of illness or accident, and some gradually from a chronic illness or frailty. Here at the RCN, we believe that no matter what the reason, everyone has the right to be cared for with dignity and respect as they approach the end of their lives.

The term ‘end of life’ usually refers to the last year of life, although for some people this will be significantly shorter. The term palliative care is often used interchangeably with end of life care. However, palliative care largely relates to symptom management, rather than actual end-of-life care. 

We believe that end-of-life care is not just the responsibility of specialist nurses and teams, but that everyone should be able to care for a loved one as they reach the end of their lives. This includes all nurses and health care support workers in all settings, the patient’s family as well as members of the community.

End-of-life care is not just the practical and technical delivery of care provided to the individual who is dying, but also refers to the support and information available both to them and the people who are important to them, for example, bereavement support.

Due to an unacceptable variance in the availability of services and professional expertise available to patients, many people are experiencing poor care at a time when they and their families need it to be at its best. We are committed to ensuring that nurses working with people who are dying are given the support they need to understand their role.

There are some fundamentals of end-of-life care that apply to all care settings in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

• People should be seen as individuals, asked what is important to them and involved in all discussions and decisions about their wishes and care.
• Everyone should get fair access to care no matter where they live or what their circumstances.
• People should be supported to be as comfortable as possible and all care and treatment should be reviewed regularly to ensure that this happens.
• The care the individual receives should be coordinated so that everyone involved is aware of the plans; changes should be shared and transitions managed in a way that ensures the person and the people who are important to them are part of this. The individual should be able to access support from informed staff day or night.
• The individual should be assured that all staff involved in their care are competent, confident and compassionate.
• The community and the public also have a role to play. They should be able to have conversations about death and dying, including what can be done outside the health and social care systems.