POOLE Hospital will take part in a new project to improve end-of-life care across the UK.

The trust is one of 10 involved in the ‘Building on the Best’ programme, recognising its success in providing palliative care to patients in the hospital and at Forest Holme Hospice - which is run by the trust.

Almost half of people who die in England and Wales currently die in hospital, yet there is considerable variation in the quality of end of life care.

Saskie Dorman, consultant in palliative medicine at Forest Holme Hospice, said: “The palliative care that people receive at Poole Hospital is highly regarded, and we have been at the forefront of developments in this field in recent years.

“Membership of this programme will allow us to further build on this work and share best practice throughout the wider NHS to ensure as many people as possible benefit from compassionate and responsive end of life care, in which patients and their families are fully involved in decision-making and plans.

“We only have one chance to get it right, and by participating in Building on the Best we can ensure this is what we are able to do for every patient who is in their last weeks and months of life.”

Funded by Macmillan Cancer Support, the scheme is supported by the National Council for Palliative Care, NHS England and the NHS Trust Development Authority in England.

The programme, which will run for two-and-a-half years, will include making information more accessible to patients and their families so they can make more informed decisions, using outpatient appointments to help people think ahead about end of life care and to discuss what is most important for patients and their families.

The scheme also aims to improve communication between hospitals and GPs to improve continuity for patients.