Article Text
Abstract
As experts in palliative care, Sue Ryder worked with the British Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) to co-produce and distribute an innovative, engaging and practical resource on how to use a human rights approach to end of life/palliative care, as part of a series involving the RCN and NHS Employers.
Aim Increase dignity and respect within health and care settings, by empowering palliative care workers and improving practice.
Approach used BIHR is a recognised leader in producing accessible and practical human rights education resources supporting service providers to implement a rights based approach within their field. Sue Ryder is working in partnership with BIHR to:
act as an expert reviewer through a steering group of experienced staff
take an active role in disseminating the guide into everyday practice through training sessions
The guide will help support front line care and nursing staff in practice, balancing individual rights with being a care giver, e.g. DoLs decisions and made freely available online with 2500 hardcopies available for distribution.
Outcomes
Increased knowledge, confidence and capacity amongst palliative care workers in delivering their human rights responsibilities promoting autonomy, dignity and respect in service delivery
Good practice recognised and shared
Prevention of poor practice, neglect and abuse
Conclusions/application to hospice practice The way palliative care workers understand and deliver on their human rights responsibilities is of fundamental importance to the delivery of dignified and patient-centred care.
This key resource will increase the knowledge and application of human rights in palliative care. It will support hospice and palliative care workers to develop a greater understanding of how human rights provide a practical route for ensuring and promoting compassion and dignity in end of life care.