MAPLE Project:
Supporting staff to be Mindful, to feel Assisted and Provided for, to have Learning opportunities and to help them feel
Empowered to give the best end of life care.
Victoria Humphrey Healthcare Assistant, JPUH Research, Evaluation and QI Scholar 2023/2024
victoria.Humphrey@jpaget.nhs.uk
Introduction:
Death is a subject that needs to be discussed openly and Results:
honestly.
When it comes to death the statistics are correct that 100% of us A Staff survey was open for 19 days and received 163
will die. We can not escape this, but we can change how we responses; these were from: 21 Doctors, 59 Nurse/Nursing
think and talk about death. As providers of care, we need to Associates, 36 Healthcare assistants, 10 AHP’s, 13 Other
think about how we care and support not only the dying and clinical, 23 Other Non-Clinical, 0 temporary Staff RN/NA and 1
those close to them, but also the staff and colleagues that Temporary staff HCA
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC
provide the care too. % of respondents who encounter end of life patients and/or their families within
their job role
In 2022 there were 577,160 recorded deaths in England and 13
Wales, 1170 of those deaths occurred at the James Paget
University Hospital(JPUH). yes no unanswered 23
64
When it comes to dying, we aim for this process to be peaceful,
calm and dignified. However, the death of a patient can be
traumatic to their loved ones, but many times, and often unseen,
this can also be upsetting to staff too. • 64% of those that answered encounter end of life patients
within their job role.
Aim: • 72% that responded said that the Gold Standard Framework
is applicable to their area of work.
• To find a baseline understanding of healthcare workers
• 9% that responded said they often/ always feel anxious
perceptions on end-of-life care within the JPUH. This is
looking after an end-of-life patient, while 20% of those said
specifically related to the Gold Standard Framework red (last
they sometimes feel anxious.
few days, hours of life).
• 36% of those that answered the survey are extremely familiar
• To also gain an understanding in what HealthCare workers
with recognising the dying phase.
would need or want.
• 85% of those that answered said that information correlated
• To enable staff to give the best care within various roles.
in one place would be very helpful.
• To give an insight in to how staff feel about end-of-life care.
90
80
%
Methodology: 70
60
• Informal interviews were had with Nurses, Dr’s and healthcare
50
40
assistants on the emergency admissions unit in the early 30
20
stages to gain information to base the foundations of the 10
0
project. (March to June 2023 ) Very helpful Somewhat helpful Neither helpful Very unhelpful
nor unhelpful
• Key stakeholder discussions were had with the Palliative team,
% of respondents who said that all palliative information consolidated would be a good idea.
Mortuary, Butterfly volunteers and the Chaplain team
(throughout the scholarship program)
• Staff were invited to take part in a survey that was open to the
whole of the JPUH including temporary staff. (29/11/23 to
18/12/23)
“To have all new `Doctors and Nurses
trained more in delivering anticipatory “I think it would be beneficial to have an
medicine as this is the last thing we can end of life family support worker who can
do, we need to get this right” come and support and help staff”
Conclusion:
This project suggests staff believe that the palliative team provide high quality care at the JPUH. However, more support is needed for staff members
who interact with dying patients and their loved ones. The support should focus on helping staff adapt to the physical and social needs of patients and
their loved ones. Additionally, there is a need to enhance the skills and knowledge of staff regarding end-of-life care. This could involve providing
easily accessible resources in one space as suggested and training to help staff better understand the unique needs of patients and their families. By
strengthening skills and knowledge , staff will be better equipped to provide the necessary compassion and dignity for patients and their loved ones as
well as creating a supportive environment for end-of-life care
Overall, the project identified that there is a need for additional support and resources, by implementing these changes staff would be better equipped
to provide high quality care and create a more dignified environment for our patients and their loved ones during their final journey.
Next Steps:
To collaborate with The Palliative Care team, to implement the MAPLE booklet for all departments. This would contain significant information needed
in relation to end of life care, all in one place. In the future, my ambition is to create a role that will provide support to all staff, enabling them to deliver
best in class end of life care to patients and their loved ones. This could be facilitating last requests from the dying, to assisting healthcare
professionals with care after death, resulting in dignified care for end-of-life patients and loved ones, with compassionate and confident staff.
Acknowledgments: References:
A) JPUH NMAHP RES scholarship program for their opportunity and amazing support given through out. B) Jacky Copping MBE, my Mentor giving me invaluable advice, motivation and the belief that I can do this. C) A) This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC
Jeanette Taylor Palliative Matron, for answering all my questions and supporting me through the last few months of my project. D) The palliative team especially those that listened to me and my ideas and supported me, B)https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarr
especially Sally Carter. E) The staff at the JPUH that took time and filled out the survey which enabled me to gather data for my project. F) Lastly EADU staff for listening and being supportive. G) special thanks to those that iages/deaths/bulletins/deathsregistrationsummarytables/2022
we have lost in the past 4 years who have driven my passion to make end of life care better than ever.
