Nurses giving end-of-life care in corridors
A poll found more than half of nurses say they've treated terminal patients in corridors, amid staffing issues.
A survey of nurses found more than half have treated patients receiving end-of-life care in corridors or other makeshift spaces.
The research found time pressures and issues with staffing levels were also cited as a barrier to providing care to terminal patients.
Nurses also spoke of widespread problems in care planning, leading to uncertainty and in some cases CPR being performed on patients against their wishes.
The findings
The Marie Curie poll of 1,153 nurses and healthcare professionals across the UK, which was open to Nursing Standard subscribers between June and July, found 55% had treated patients in corridors or non-clinical areas.
More than seven in 10 (%) said people being treated in areas not designed for end-of-life care compromised dignity and left families and loved ones distressed.
In terms of barriers to providing care, some 72.2% said staffing levels are a constraint, while 56.2% said a lack of time is an issue.
Elsewhere, Marie Curie found there were problems with care planning, which led to uncertainty around patient wishes at the end of their life.
More than a third of nurses said they had witnessed CPR being performed when they felt it was inappropriate.
One nurse told of a CPR being performed on a terminal cancer patient who ended up dying on the bathroom floor.
They said: “We were never going to get her back.
“She died on the floor in the bathroom, undignified, family hysterical, staff all left traumatised.”
Another nurse said an older man carried a paper care plan in his pocket to ensure he was not subject to intervention against his wishes.
Calls to address gaps in the system
Sarah Williamson, director of nursing and quality at Marie Curie, said: “These harrowing stories are incredibly difficult to read, but it’s so important that we are aware of the stark reality facing nurses, clinical teams, families and patients every day.
“When someone has taken the time to think about how they want to die, that decision should follow them, wherever they are and to whoever is caring for them.”
Marie Curie is calling on the Government to use the Health Bill to address gaps in the system.
The charity said the single patient record should be available to all palliative patients and end-of-life care providers to ensure people’s wishes are respected.
Ms Williamson said: “The Health Bill is a chance to fix the systems behind these decisions, so that a person’s wishes are recorded once and available to everyone involved in their care.
“We’re also looking at how we can help. Marie Curie is trialling new ways of working with the NHS in hospital emergency departments and GP practices to identify people approaching the end of life earlier and put the right support in place, including advance care plans.”