The Minister for Health approved the development of an Advance Care Planning Policy for adults (18 years and over) in Northern Ireland.
The aim of this policy is to support people to have greater choice and control over their future care and treatment.
Advance Care Planning (ACP) focuses on what is important to a person and what they would prioritise in their future, should they be unable to make decisions for themselves.
It is an on-going process of conversations between a person, those important to them and those providing care, support and treatment. Advance Care Planning is an umbrella term covering personal, clinical, legal and financial planning.
Advance Care Planning should be an important part of life for all adults. It needs to be encouraged by those providing care, support and treatment to ensure that people have the opportunity to have timely, realistic and practical conversations about what matters to them. These conversations may include Advance Decisions to Refuse Treatment (ADRT) and a person’s view on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
Engaging with and involving service users, carers and the public is an important part of policy development. There is currently phase II engagement arranged for the end of June on this revised draft Advance Care Planning Policy, before the final stage where the policy goes out for public consultation which is currently planned for September 2021.
As we enter this next stage of development, we are seeking interested individuals to help us to shape how Advance Care Planning will be taken forward and implemented in Northern Ireland.
Applications have now closed. Should you have any queries, please email David Cassidy, Involvement Officer on david.cassidy@pcc-ni.net