Request
Please could you provide the following information relating to Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) forms under Freedom of Information.
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Does the SHA have a standard DNR form that its providers use, and if so when was it introduced? If not, do you have plans to introduce one?
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How many patients have requested that they should not be resuscitated, via DNR forms or other written statements, in each of the following years: 2008/9, 2009/10 and 2010/11
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What criteria does the SHA use for determining whether it is appropriate to issue a DNR form to a patient (eg terminal illness, resident of nursing or care home, patients over a certain age),
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Which of the following healthcare professionals are on occasions expected to discuss DNR forms or equivalent paperwork with patients in your area? Please indicate all that apply:
Palliative care specialist doctors
Palliative care specialist nurses
Other hospital doctors
Other hospital nurses
Practice-based GPs
Out-of-hours GPs
Practice nurses
Community/district nurses
Pharmacists
Healthcare assistants
Social care workers
Health visitors
Our response
I refer to your email requesting information in respect of Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) forms.
I can confirm in accordance with S.1 (1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) that we do not hold all of the information that you have requested. However, I will address each of your points in turn:
1. Does the SHA have a standard DNR form that its providers use, and if so when was it introduced? If not, do you have plans to introduce one?
- Constituent organisations from across the East Midlands have over the past 12 months developed a DNACPR principles document, decision making framework and unified DNACPR patient held form. This is in the final stages of formatting and ratification.
2. How many patients have requested that they should not be resuscitated, via DNR forms or other written statements, in each of the following years: 2008/9, 2009/10 and 2010/11
- NHS East Midlands does not hold this information.
3. What criteria does the SHA use for determining whether it is appropriate to issue a DNR form to a patient (eg terminal illness, resident of nursing or care home, patients over a certain age),
- The principle document form and decision making framework can be utilised across all care settings
- The decision making framework has been developed to prompt professionals and help communication between professionals patients/carers and care settings
- It is our intention that patients will be responsible for holding their own DNACPR form in the community
- The aim was to develop a unified form that would be recognised along the patient pathway and reduce un-necessary distress to the patient and their family in an emergency situation or on discharge or a change of place of care
4. Which of the following healthcare professionals are on occasions expected to discuss DNR forms or equivalent paperwork with patients in your area? Please indicate all that apply.
- Palliative care specialist doctors yes
- Palliative care specialist nurses yes
- Other hospital doctors yes
- Other hospital nurses yes
- Practice-based GPs yes
- Out-of-hours GPs yes
- Practice nurses Possibly - dependent on individual practices
- Community/district nurses yes
- Pharmacists Possibly - dependent on individual practices
- Healthcare assistants yes
- Social care workers yes
- Health visitors Possibly - dependent on individual practices
The following link to the end of life - standard do not resuscitate policy section will allow you to view the work we are doing around this issue along with the latest version of the document.
http://www.excellence.eastmidlands.nhs.uk/welcome/improving-care/end-of-life-care/standard-do-not-resuscitate-policy/
I hope that this information is of use. If you are dissatisfied with the way in which we have dealt with your request you can ask us to review our decision by writing to:-
Mr Moosa Patel
Director of Corporate Affairs
NHS East Midlands
Octavia House
Interchange Business Park
Bostock's Lane
Sandiacre
Nottingham
NG10 5QG
If at the conclusion of any review you remain dissatisfied you may complain to the Information Commissioner who can be contacted at:-
The Office of the Information Commissioner
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
