Last Updated on: 21st November 2023, 11:37 pm
The Gold Standards Framework Centre (GSF) has called on the Government to increase resources and training for frontline health and care professionals, to provide improved care for those in their last years of life.
Research conducted by the charity revealed that two thirds of people surveyed prefer to die at home or in a care home. However, unless more end of life training and support is provided, the decline in hospital deaths could reverse, leading to increased emergency admissions.
Keri Thomas, founder and Chair of GSF, said: “If end of life training and support for staff in the community does not increase, we are likely to see poorer quality of care for the dying in the community along with increased numbers of hospital admissions and hospital deaths. This leads to increased hospitalisation and reduced access for acutely unwell patients, with the consequent clogging up of emergency departments and long ambulance waits seen in many hospitals last winter.”
Ms Thomas added that investment in prevention through proactive training can reap benefits at practical, economic and humanitarian levels. She also noted that two thirds of people surveyed backed GSF’s call for the Government to provide more resources and training for end of life care as a national priority.
To mark their 25th anniversary, GSF hosted an online celebration event, focusing on the impact, reach and influence of the charity over the past 25 years.
Over the last 25 years, GSF has trained over 5,000 teams, about half a million staff and accredited over 2,000 organisations or teams, making it the UK’s leading and most experienced training provider in end of life care for generalist frontline staff across all settings.
