Leeds hospitals in bid boost end of life care

Health Minister Ben Gummer has revealed that Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust will be one of 10 trusts to take part in the Building on the Best programme funded by Macmillan Cancer Support.

The scheme, which will initially roll out in England, will see hospitals make information more accessible to patients and their families to enable shared decision making, take opportunities to discuss care planning in advance of difficulties and improve the handover of record as patients move between care facilities.

An evaluation of the scheme, which is supported by the National Council for Palliative Care, Macmillan Cancer Support, NHS England and the NHS Trust Development Authority, will be used to improve palliative care in hospitals across the country. Trust representatives will meet to discuss the scheme for the first time in March.

Mr Gummer said: “This excellent initiative will benefit thousands of patients and their families at one of the most difficult and vulnerable moments of their lives.”