Posted on: 9 November 2020
Specialist clinicians from Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation, Yorkshire and Humber Patient Safety Collaborative and Yorkshire and Humber Clinical Networks have produced a new film showing people from diverse backgrounds who work and live in West Yorkshire and Harrogate sharing their positive thoughts and experiences of making an Advance Care Plan.
Advance care plans are an important way to help people have what can be quite difficult conversations with their loved ones and carers in a supportive and compassionate way. Recording future wishes can be empowering and a way for people to feel more in control when the future seems uncertain. If at a future time, the person is no longer able to make their wishes known, they will have the assurance that their wishes will still be heard.
An advance care plan is an often overlooked and yet crucial aspect of personalised care planning which has come to the fore during the COVID-19 pandemic. It differs from general care planning in that it is usually used in the context of progressive illness and anticipated deterioration.
Dr Andrew Sixsmith, GP Partner and Clinical Advisor to West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership said:
“This new film is the latest in a series of resources we have produced to help people make plans for their future care. The people who participated in the film tell us how valuable the opportunity to talk through their wishes, record them and know that they will be respected when the time comes has been for their peace of mind. Making an Advance Care Plan allows people to get on with enjoying the time that they have now, having made their own decisions about what will happen as they approach the end of their life.”