Last Days Care Plan Framework Implemented at Tauranga Hospital
Tauranga Hospital noted that a New Zealand wide framework for supporting care at End of Life was not being consistently utilized and staff were asking for support. As a result, the Last Days Care Plan framework was developed. It is a combination of two pre-existing tools plus the addition of symptom control guidelines.
After implementing the Last Days Care Plan at Tauranga an audit was conducted using the Care of the Dying tool developed at Canterbury DHB. Audit results show an improvement of 5% (from 20% to 25%). It should be noted that the improvement could be a reflection of improved documentation instead of better care.
Additionally, an excellent response from ward based staff was reported. Staff liked everything being in one document and nurses especially liked the flow charts and medication guidance. After further evaluation, the Last Day Care Plan should be suitable for the community and RACF setting.
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