According to the inaugural National End of Life survey, one-tenth of respondents believe their loved ones received an end-of-life care that ranges from ‘fair’ to ‘poor’. However, the majority view the quality of such care in Ireland to be high. Suggestions were made for areas needing improvement, following the survey’s release on Thursday morning.
Conducted by the National Care Experience Programme, jointly initiated by the Health Information and Quality Authority, the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the Department of Health, the survey involved 4,570 bereaved kin and friends reflecting on the care given to their loved ones in their last days and months.
Nearly three-quarters (74%) of the respondents deemed the end-of-life care to be ‘very good’, while 15% considered it ‘good’. However, 11% thought their loved one received care that was either ‘fair’ or ‘poor’.
Some participants shared their experiences, particularly highlighting issues related to insufficient communication. One participant expressed their regret over not getting enough information about pain relief towards the end of life and missing the chance to say a proper goodbye. Others echoed the sentiment, complaining about minimal communication between healthcare professionals and themselves.
Nonetheless, a major part of the responses lauded the compassion and care shown by the healthcare staff. Participants praised the level of respect and those who were able to provide comfort and dignity to their loved ones during difficult times.
The survey also reviewed experiences of people who had received care or passed away in different settings. Hospitals were the most common place of death (39.4%), followed by nursing homes, the deceased’s own home, and hospicies.
The research data revealed that the care given included a multitude of settings and services in the final moments and days of people’s lives.
Variations were observed in the nature of deaths across different environments. For instance, individuals who passed away in hospitals generally had a shorter duration of illness compared to others in distinct settings.
The majority of survey respondents expressed confidence and trust in the medical personnel responsible for their friend or relative’s wellbeing. They also believed that the medical team was able to communicate effectively about the patient’s condition and care.
However, the survey also pinpointed several aspects of care that require enhancement. Notable concerns incorporated the consistency, availability and responsiveness of care, punctuality of care, and mental support.
Within the survey, nearly one quarter, precisely 23.9 percent, of the respondents negated the presence of effective co-ordination between various services and staff involved in the care of their loved ones during the final quarter of their lives.
Some respondents also felt their friend or relative didn’t receive the immediate assistance required from the medical staff.
On a brighter note, relatives who lost their loved ones in hospices gave the highest approval rating for overall end-of-life care, with almost 94 per cent rating the care as ‘very good’.
Addressing the findings, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly acknowledged the need for enhancement, particularly in service integration and co-ordination. Mr. Donnelly stated that the survey’s findings would guide departmental policies aimed at improving end-of-life care.
The Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People, Mary Butler expressed satisfaction with the high approval rating for nursing home care. Bernard Gloster, the HSE chief executive, thanked each participant for their contribution to the survey, suggesting that this feedback offered valuable insights for improving end-of-life healthcare services, an area of key focus.