Coronavirus: Disease Control

(asked on 23rd March 2021) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department has taken to implement the recommendations of the Care Quality Commission report, Protect, respect, connect – decisions about living and dying well during COVID-19, published 18 March 2021.


Answered by
Nadine Dorries Portrait
Nadine Dorries
This question was answered on 30th March 2021

The Department is committed to driving forward the recommendations set out in the Care Quality Commission’s report through the establishment of a Ministerial Oversight Group. This group will bring together partners across health and social care to implement improvements in Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (DNACPR) decisions and ensure everyone receives the compassionate care they deserve.

The Department does not hold data on the numbers of DNACPR decisions. However, we remain clear that it is unacceptable for DNACPR decisions to be applied in a blanket fashion to any group of people and have taken continued action over the last year, alongside clinical leaders, to clarify best practice. The Adult Social Care Winter Plan reinforces that any advance care decision, including DNACPR decisions, should be fully discussed with the individual and their family where possible and appropriate, and signed by the clinician responsible for their care.

The 2020/21 General Medical Services contract Quality and Outcomes Framework includes a requirement for all DNACPR decisions for people with learning disabilities to be reviewed. We continue to monitor the situation and have invited charities to inform us where cases of inappropriate practice are identified so that action can be taken.

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