Have your say on end of life care: The GMC wants your views – they really do count!

A great new podcast has been launched calling on people to tell us their views on end of life care.

The GMC has launched a podcast calling on doctors, patients and the public to share their views on end of life care. 

Barbara Myers, presenter of BBC Radio 4’s Check Up, talks to Lady Christine Eames, chair of the GMC’s working group, about why it is so important that patients, the public and doctors share their views on this difficult subject. To listen to the podcast go to:

http://www.gmc-uk.org/guidance/news_consultation/eol_care.asp

The podcast is part of a GMC campaign promoting the consultation on draft guidance, End of life treatment and care: Good practice in decision-making. The guidance will be issued to all UK doctors next year. It aims to support doctors making difficult decisions, but may also help patients and the public, and other health and social care staff, to understand what they can expect from doctors involved in caring for patients who are dying.

In the podcast, Lady Christine Eames, Chair of the GMC’s working group on End of Life Care says:

“It really matters to us that we learn and hear from groups of people representing the interests of patients and carers, but also the wider public - for example, those who have experienced caring for someone approaching the end of their life, and of course the width of medical profession itself. 

“This is absolutely a real process of consultation. Those contributing should be confident that we are in listening mode and there is time built into our work to analyse, to consider the opinions and very much to make them part of the guidelines we will be offering.”

Death is a subject seldom discussed, yet it touches everyone, whether as a patient, carer or health professional. The GMC hopes that the podcast and the wider consultation will encourage the public to have their say. As part of the campaign the GMC is also:

• Sending the consultation to over 1000 organisations and individuals who are involved in end of life care or represent the views of the profession, patients and those with long term conditions
• holding meetings across the UK to ensure that everyone has a chance to have their say on the guidance
• promoting a shorter consultation with fewer questions so that busy doctors or those outside the profession who do not have time to give a detailed response can still offer their views
• holding a UK wide consultative conference on Wednesday 3 June 2009.

To read more or take part in the consultation on End of life treatment and care: Good practice in decision-making go to: http://www.gmc-uk.org/guidance/news_consultation/eol_care.asp