Recommended summary plan for emergency care and treatment (ReSPECT)

1 Introduction

The recommended summary plan for emergency care and treatment (ReSPECT) is a process that creates personalised recommendations for a person’s clinical care in a future emergency in which they are unable to make or express choices. It provides healthcare professionals responding to that emergency with a summary of recommendations to help them to make immediate decisions about that person’s care and treatment.

This policy details the standards, considerations, and procedures within Doncaster, relating to the initiation and journey of the ReSPECT form and process including a broad range of treatment and care decisions, particularly those relating to life sustaining treatment, including but not exclusively, cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Many people want to be able to influence the care that they receive, and take part in decision-making about treatment, whether currently in a state of ill health, or in anticipation of future ill health. For others who lack the mental capacity to make those decisions themselves, decisions about the treatment that they receive may have to be taken by others.

This policy therefore places emphasis on the need for quality discussions by clinicians with patients, as early as possible in the patients’ journey. For example, this may be at the diagnosis of a long-term condition or when identified as entering last year of life, but this policy will have increasing relevance for people who have complex health needs, people who are likely to be nearing the end of their lives, and people who are at risk of sudden deterioration or cardiac arrest. Some people will want to record their care and treatment preferences for other reasons.

Adherence to this process supports the provision of a holistic approach which involves individual assessment, assists patients to make informed decisions and voice their preferences, to maintain the patient’s dignity, and respect of their free will.

2 What is ReSPECT?

The ReSPECT form is more than a do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation (DNACPR) form.

ReSPECT is a process, and its aims are to promote constructive conversations between people and their clinicians encouraging high-quality, individualised, shared decision-making with people, including in particular those who are at risk of acute deterioration, and to promote high-quality documentation of such discussions and decisions.

Advance care planning can happen at any stage and the person’s wishes, or statements may lead to a ReSPECT document being considered, discussed, and completed even in the absence of advanced illness.

This policy aims to promote emergency planning conversations between patients and clinicians as early as possible, initiated particularly for those:

the onset of frailty or ageing
the point of a long-term condition diagnosis
a change or deterioration in condition

Resulting in better advanced care planning, good communication and better overall care.

Those with complex care needs and, or co-morbidities may require a detailed advanced care plan to supplement the ReSPECT documentation and to support in key decision-making in an emergency situation. Further advice on advanced care planning is provided in section 9.

2.1 What is a ReSPECT conversation?

ReSPECT conversations follow the ReSPECT process by discussing the following.

2.1.1 Treatment

The ReSPECT process is not solely aimed at decisions about limiting treatment; it is intended to support people to articulate and share their views about treatments and approaches to care that they do want, as well as about those that they don’t.

The process and document can cover recommendations about both specific treatments (such as clinically assisted nutrition) and approaches to care (such as whether a person would want to be taken to hospital in an emergency) with the clinician explaining sensitively advance decisions about treatments that clearly would not work in their situation.

2.1.2 Emergency response

This is about discussing and reaching a shared understanding of the person’s current state of health and how it may change in the foreseeable future, identifying the person’s preferences for and goals of care in the event of a future emergency and using that to record an agreed focus of care (either more towards life-sustaining treatments or more towards prioritising comfort over efforts to sustain life).

2.1.3 Cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Making and recording a shared decision about whether CPR is recommended. Decisions about whether to initiate CPR are one element of emergency treatment plans. Increasing evidence suggests that considering whether to attempt CPR and discussing CPR in the context of overall goals and other types of care and treatment that might be needed, reduces incidences of harm compared to focusing only on ‘do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

The ReSPECT document is intended to extend to a wider set of clinical decisions that can detail a planned system of proactive treatment and care and, or form part of an emergency response, in addition to decisions regarding CPR. Guidance on actual completion of the form can be found here, ReSPECT resources, Resuscitation Council UK (opens in new window).

Where practicably possible, the plan should stay with the person and be available immediately to health and care professionals faced with making immediate decisions in an emergency in which the person themselves has lost capacity to participate in making those decisions.

ReSPECT may be used across a range of health and care settings, including the person’s own home, an ambulance, a care home, an education setting, a hospice, or a hospital. Professionals such as ambulance crews, out-of-hours doctors, care home staff and hospital staff will be better able to make immediate decisions about a person’s emergency care and treatment if they have prompt access to agreed clinical recommendations on a ReSPECT form.

A person can still have a ReSPECT form in place and require CPR.

ReSPECT is not a legally binding document. It does not override clinical judgment in the event of a reversible cause of the patient’s respiratory or cardiac arrest that does not match the circumstances envisaged when the recommendation was made, provided that there is not a valid and applicable advance decision expressly refusing such intervention.

In an emergency, the presumption should be in favour of CPR if this has a realistic chance of prolonging life. Examples for overriding ReSPECT in favour of treatment include choking and a blocked tracheostomy.

2.2 Completion of a ReSPECT document and record-keeping

A fundamental principle of the ReSPECT process is that the “active” document should accompany the person in whatever healthcare setting they may be. Usually, this will require the person having the document in paper format when they are at home. A crucial aspect of ReSPECT is that it should be available to and easily accessible by the relevant healthcare professionals who may have to provide care and make immediate decisions in an emergency situation.

As the ReSPECT document is a summary of detailed conversations and planning that may have taken place on more than one occasion, it is essential that a comprehensive record of such is documented in the person’s medical record. An entry in that record should also state the date and time of completion of the ReSPECT document.

If there is a subsequent significant change in the plan of care for a person, a new ReSPECT document should be completed, and the old one clearly marked as cancelled and added to the person’s medical record. An entry should also be made in the person’s current health record stating the date and time that the document has been amended or cancelled and recording details of any new document completed. The healthcare professional with overall clinical responsibility is responsible for ensuring that this has been done.

The healthcare professional that has completed a ReSPECT document for a given person, including amending, or cancelling the document, is responsible for ensuring adequate and timely handover to other members of the healthcare team. This includes sharing electronically, where possible. All sharing of a person’s ReSPECT information should be documented clearly.

2.3 Amending or cancelling a person’s ReSPECT document

Following the patient’s journey, the form should be reviewed and if necessary updated if and when:

the patient’s circumstances change (including their personal wishes and overall health)
they have a change in care setting (Prior to discharge the content of the ReSPECT document, including the recommendation about CPR, should be reviewed, and recorded as such) (on admission and discharge from a hospital setting, admitted into a care home), see below for further information
the responsible clinician feels it is appropriate to do so (good practice suggests every six months)

The ReSPECT document that accompanies the person on discharge should be the most recent, “active” version. The latest version document must be photocopied at discharge and be retained in the front section of the notes, the original copy accompanies the patient.

It will also be helpful to the health and care teams in the new setting (for example, GP, care home) if this information includes the relevant timescale for review of the ReSPECT document.

The ReSPECT process and summary details must be conveyed to the patient’s own GP in writing as part of the discharge summary or the discharge letter (electronically where possible). It is recommended that the GP reviews the contents of the ReSPECT form with the individual within a reasonable timeframe to ensure it remains reflective of their wishes as they recover post discharge.

A ReSPECT document should be cancelled when its contents are no longer valid, or no longer applicable. For example, this may be because the person’s clinical condition has changed; because they have requested cancellation; or because of a change in the assessment of the best interests of a person who lacks capacity.

2.4 Validity and applicability of a ReSPECT document

A person’s ReSPECT document will remain valid as an up-to-date plan for emergency care and potentially life-sustaining treatment until it is cancelled, or unless the decision-maker at the time has reasonable doubt that the document is not valid, or not applicable to the current situation. The decision-maker should bear in mind that they should have good reason for and be prepared to justify a decision to go against an existing ReSPECT document that is valid and applicable.

Where a patient has lost capacity for the relevant decisions, the ReSPECT document should be used as a guide to best-interests decision-making by healthcare professionals in an emergency including potentially life-sustaining treatments.

A ReSPECT document (with or without DNACPR decision) will be considered valid if it is either the original purple document, printed or photocopy and completed with a signature is either wet (penned) or the typed name of the clinician who completed the form, the clinician’s GMC or NMC number, date, role and grade must also be documented.

2.5 ReSPECT for people who lack mental capacity to discuss recommendations and plans for their care and treatment in a future emergency situation

The ReSPECT document may be used to document recommendations for people who lack the mental capacity to discuss and make informed, shared decisions about their care. The Mental Capacity Act (2005) (MCA) sets out a legal framework of how to act and make decisions on behalf of people who lack capacity to make specific decisions for themselves and applies to people ages 16 years and over. More information on the MCA can be found here, Mental Capacity Act (2005) (opens in new window).

Clinicians involved in the ReSPECT process should be familiar with:

when and how to assess a person’s mental capacity
when and how to make decisions that are in the best interests of a person who lacks capacity
when and how to involve advocates and proxy decision-makers in relevant decisions.

If a person over the age of 16 lacks mental capacity to make a particular decision under the MCA, any decisions regarding their treatment must be made in their best interests, unless the decision is covered by a legally valid and applicable ADRT refusing the treatment in question.

There must be involvement of:

anyone named by the person as someone to be consulted on the matter in question or on matters of that kind
anyone engaged in caring for the person or interested in their welfare
any recipient of a lasting power of attorney for health granted by the person
any deputy appointed for the person by the court unless it is not practicable or appropriate to consult them

The person’s mental capacity, lack of mental capacity, and, or the existence of a proxy decision-maker (for example, a recipient of Lasting Power of Attorney with relevant legal powers), and, or the existence of a valid and applicable ADRT should be recorded in the ReSPECT document as well as in the person’s current health record. Those with complex care needs may require an advanced care plan to supplement the ReSPECT documentation.

2.6 Roles and responsibilities for completion of the ReSPECT process

When embarking upon this process, all health and social care staff must:

have accessed relevant training and education to authorise them to perform this role
have considered and accessed the policy to clarify any concerns where relevant and, or consulted a more senior or experienced clinician or staff member
respect the wishes of the patient wherever possible
meet the requirements of this policy, the standards, and behaviours of an employee of their organisation and of their profession

In addition, senior clinicians (signatories) are also to:

comply with any legally binding advance refusal of treatment including cardiopulmonary resuscitation or other life sustaining treatment, as part of an existing, valid, and applicable advance decision to refuse treatment (ADRT)
ensure the statutory process of a best interest assessment is completed where the patient lacks capacity to be involved in the decision-making process and there is no pre-existing legally binding ADRT or specific lasting power of attorney’s with these powers
provide benefits that are not outweighed by burden
maintain overall responsibility for the details on the ReSPECT form, providing signatures, and countersignatures where applicable

2.6.1 GPs or consultants

In the community, the overall clinical responsibility for decisions in relation to ReSPECT, CPR, and details on the form, lies with the GP in charge of the patient’s care.

When a patient is admitted to hospital, the responsibility as above lies with the Consultant in charge of the patient’s care, until they’re discharged.

The GP or consultant may wish to delegate this responsibility to a suitably qualified clinician, see point 2.6.3.

2.6.1.1 Attendance at the accident and emergency department

In a situation where a patient experiences an acute episode resulting in an A and E attendance, the Consultant overseeing their care is responsible for ensuring that a timely request to review, and where appropriate update, the ReSPECT document is communicated to the GP. Clinical recommendations are encouraged as part of this communication.

2.6.2 Junior doctors

In some situations where a discussion surrounding ReSPECT takes place with a junior doctor with a patient, relative, carer or independent mental capacity advocate (IMCA), the doctor must refer to a more senior colleague, the consultant or GP responsible for the patient’s care. Any such decision made by a junior doctor must be reviewed and countersigned by the consultant responsible for that patient at the first available opportunity prior to discharge.

2.6.3 Advanced clinicians

An advanced clinician is a suitably qualified clinician with the skills and ability to assess, diagnose and treat.

A GP or consultant may delegate the responsibility of the ReSPECT process to a suitably qualified advanced clinician. The clinician is then responsible for having a ReSPECT conversation with the patient (and, or family or carer where appropriate), completing and signing the form.

The advanced clinician must have received an appropriate level of training and be comfortable, competent, and confident in undertaking the process.

The roles and responsibilities of all staff include proactively promoting and discussing advance care planning and initiating the ReSPECT process wherever appropriate. The process itself must be carried out by a senior clinician with the correct level of training.

3 Children and young people

In Doncaster, the large majority of children needing palliative care are under the care of specialists in Sheffield or Leeds however there may be situations when clinicians within Doncaster need to initiate or complete the ReSPECT process.

3.1 Who should or could initiate the discussion, and when?

It can be appropriate for professionals caring for children and young people with life limiting or life-threatening conditions to initiate a discussion about end-of-life planning well before the child or young person is terminally ill. It may also be appropriate to begin discussions if a child or young person has an acute illness or repeated illness as a result of which it becomes clearer to professionals and, or the parents that the child or young person is moving into a terminal phase of their illness, or that they are at an increased risk of a more sudden life-threatening illness or event.

Usually, the most appropriate professional to initiate this discussion is the named paediatrician or children’s palliative care practitioner. If professionals initiate a discussion, consideration should be given to the sensitive timing of this and further support for the family and young person may be necessary.

Decision-making should not be forced on a young person or family. If a professional initiates a discussion about ReSPECT and the young person or family indicate they do not wish to continue, their wishes should be respected, and the details recorded in the medical notes.

3.2 Who can make decisions?

3.2.1 For children

Parental ability to make decisions concerning a ReSPECT for their child is governed by the Mental Capacity Act (2005) (opens in new window).

Every effort should be made to communicate with the family in such a way that they can understand the information given and respond with their decision.

3.2.2 For young people

The Department of Health (2009) state that:

by virtue of section 8 of the Family Law Reform Act (1969), young people aged 16 and 17 are presumed to be capable of consenting to their own medical treatment. As for adults, consent will be valid only if it is given voluntarily by an appropriately informed young person capable of consenting to the particular intervention. However, unlike adults, the refusal of a competent person aged 16–17 may in certain circumstances be overridden by either a person with parental responsibility or a court

In exceptional circumstances it may not be possible for all concerned to reach a united decision regarding the best interest of the young person. If this cannot be resolved by the patient’s consultant, the consultant should request further advice from regional experts, medical directors and legal services. Doncaster health and care services.

To establish whether a young person aged 16 or 17 has the requisite capacity to consent to the proposed intervention; the same criteria should be used as for adults. If a young person lacks capacity to consent because of an impairment of, or a disturbance in the functioning of, the mind or brain then the Mental Capacity Act (2005) will apply in the same way as it does to those who are 18 and over (Department of Health (2009).

Where a young person lacks capacity to decide, a person with parental responsibility for the young person may make a ReSPECT decision where they consider that to be in the young person’s best interests.

If a 16 or 17-year-old is capable of making an informed decision then it is not legally necessary to obtain additional consent from a person with parental responsibility. It is, however, good practice to involve the young person’s family in the decision-making process, unless the young person specifically wishes to exclude them.

3.2.3 Children in local authority care

Where a child is in the care of the local authority the child’s social worker must be involved in all of the discussions as well as parents, as the local authority shares parental responsibility with the parents. However, when a child is in voluntary care (section 20, Children Act 1989) the parents retain full parental responsibility.

3.3 What happens when a young person and a person with parental responsibility disagree about a ReSPECT decision?

Decision-making with young people may be a matter of negotiation between the child, those with parental responsibility and clinicians. Inevitably there will be times when young people and those with parental responsibility for them do not agree about whether treatment and, or DNACPR decisions should be made. If there is disagreement between the patient and those with parental responsibility despite attempts to reach agreement, legal advice should be sought.

3.4 What happens when medical staff and a young person or persons with parental responsibility disagree about a ReSPECT decision?

Where medical staff are strongly of the opinion that further treatment or cardiopulmonary resuscitation should not be attempted but the parents, young person or people with parental responsibility disagree, or vice versa, a legal opinion should be sought.

3.5 Safeguarding issues

Where there is doubt about whether a person with parental responsibility is acting in the interest of the child or young person, then local safeguarding children board procedures must be instigated.

4 Training and further support

In order to achieve a standardised level of training across Doncaster for all health and social care partners, there is an expectation within this policy for staff to be competent and trained in relation to ReSPECT in accordance with the expectation of their role.

The tiered training is as follows.

4.1 Tier one

As a minimum, this is aimed at all health and social care staff and forms part of the mandatory training to ensure staff have a general awareness of the ReSPECT process. Resources can be utilised from the resuscitation council website including a leaflet and the option to watch “Joe’s story video” (6 mins).

4.2 Tier two

This is aimed at staff who are directly caring for patients for example, community nurses, practice nurses, general hospital ward nurses, and any healthcare professional in regular contact with patients who may benefit from a ReSPECT form. Tier two staff are expected to have an understanding of ReSPECT and this will be covered in the CLS and ILS training. Staff can complete the “ReSPECT awareness” module on e-learning for healthcare (opens in new window), and do further reading, but is individuals’ choice.

4.3 Tier three

Tier three training is aimed at staff who will be carrying out the ReSPECT conversation and completing the form, for example, doctors, consultants, advanced clinicians (an advanced clinician is a suitably qualified clinician with the skills and ability to assess, diagnose and treat). It is the responsibility of each organisation to identify who is deemed appropriate to carry out the ReSPECT process and complete the forms.

The expectation is that these staff members complete the “ReSPECT authorship training” module on e-learning for healthcare (opens in new window) and send the certificate to the trust ReSPECT lead for evidence, they will send it to learning and development for logging on ESR.

In addition, there must be a degree of flexibility across the system to share expertise, education and provide support in delivering additional tier three training in the form of workshop, table-top discussion and scenario or case base learning. Organisations are encouraged to work together across the system to ensure there is no inequity in ReSPECT education and training.

Further information and useful resources on ReSPECT can be found here, ReSPECT for healthcare professionals, Resuscitation Council UK (opens in new window).

5 General principles

Variations in local policies can cause misunderstandings and lead to distressing incidents for patients, families, and staff. Increased movement of patients and staff between different care settings makes a single, integrated, and consistent approach to this complex and sensitive area a necessity. Therefore, agreement has been reached across providers to implement a single policy which applies to all multidisciplinary health and social care teams involved in patient care across Doncaster.

By working together as a system, organisations collectively acknowledge and agree to adhere to, the principles of ReSPECT which revolve around a desire to ensure patients get the care and outcomes they value by:

encouraging patients to think about and communicate what outcomes they value and which ones they fear the most
facilitating clinicians to make and record recommendations for care and treatment based on these patient preferences
ensuring that these clinical recommendations are summarised in a plan for emergency care and treatment
ensuring that the recommendations are recognised and respected by pre-hospital, primary and secondary care

6 Commitment from organisations

Organisations who agree to adhere to this policy also commit to the following:

ensuring all staff access the most appropriate level of education and training to enable us to embed the ReSPECT process or conversation within the system
to raise awareness of the ethos of ReSPECT and the importance of early conversations, documenting, and sharing those outcomes and updating appropriately
identify a ReSPECT champion within their own organisation to become part of a local ReSPECT champion network that will meet quarterly to drive and further embed ReSPECT within the system
to ensure education and quality improvement in relation to the details on the ReSPECT form are a priority and that concerns regarding quality are raised via an appropriate platform to allow the system to work collaboratively to resolve in a supportive manner
to work as one health and social care system by ensuring effective communication across organisations in relation to ReSPECT forms and shared decision-making for the best interest of the patient
where necessary and appropriate, carry out those difficult conversations, and provide patients with the information they need to make decisions about their care Doncaster health and care services working in partnership across Doncaster
continue to explore digital options in alignment with the Doncaster place digital strategy
acknowledge that ReSPECT recommendations can only be effective across healthcare settings if they are correctly completed and shared without delay with relevant healthcare professionals whose decisions it is intended to inform

7 Organisations that agree to delivering the strategy within this policy

Doncaster Clinical Commissioning Group
Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council
Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust
Primary Care Doncaster
Doncaster Local Medical Committee
Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals
Flyde Coast Medical Services, Doncaster
Age UK Doncaster
Yorkshire Ambulance Service

8 Review

This policy will be monitored for 12 months and reviewed as a system in April 2023.

9 Guidance and associated documents

Document control

Approved by: February 2022.
Name of originator or author: Kim Bottomley, Strategy and delivery manager, Doncaster clinical commissioning group in collaboration with ReSPECT quality improvement task and finishing group.

Page last reviewed: November 21, 2024
Next review due: November 21, 2025

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