Starting end-of-life conversations in hospital

The Conversation Project, part of The King's Fund/The Health Foundation Patient and Family-centred Care programme, aims to encourage health professionals to identify when patients are approaching the end of their lives and to ensure this is addressed in decision making and discussions. The project team explored the experience of staff based on a ward caring for older people. They found staff sometimes found it difficult to initiate end-of-life conversations and, therefore, to make patient-centred care plans. A development and support programme has improved staff confidence and resulted in more documented planning and discussion about the end of life.