By Patricia Ojo, Pharmacist Independent Prescriber at Stevens Pharmacy
As a pharmacist and nurse, I've always been passionate about providing the best care possible to our patients, especially those facing the end of their lives. I’ve blogged before on how pharmacy teams are central to enhancing end of life and palliative care, and now my team and I have embarked on the journey to implement the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's quality improvement Daffodil Standards.
Our journey began with a team meeting, where we discussed what we could do to enhance our existing support for patients. It was a great starting point, as my team has always been deeply engaged in end-of-life patient care.
One of the first steps we took was to focus more on the perspective of carers and relatives. We recognised the importance of understanding their needs, so we started asking more questions and actively engaging with them to ensure their concerns were addressed.
Using Daffodil Standards' resources for informed end-of-life care
The team are already great at flagging up all end-of-life scripts with me. This way, we help ensure that patients have rapid access to the medications they need. Timely access to these medications is critical in ensuring patient comfort and care.
We also found that the Daffodil Standards' starter pack was a valuable resource. It included a variety of informative leaflets that we could read and distribute to our patients and their families, enhancing their understanding of end-of-life care options and support available.
Navigating the challenges of the daffodil standards
Our journey to implement the Daffodil Standards hasn't been without its challenges, though. Some of the standards have been easier to incorporate into our daily practices, particularly standards 1, 2, 3, 6, and 7, as these were aspects we were already carrying out. However, standards 4, 5, and 8 have been more challenging, not because they are difficult, but because they require time and networking.
For instance, we often learn about end-of-life situations when patients present scripts for 'just in case' medications. These situations can be urgent, and conversations are easier when there's an introduction. To address this, we're exploring the idea of having our pharmacy identified by patients and carers as an active part of their end-of-life care, not just a source of medicines. This could help streamline communication and support.
Regarding Standard 8, we've noticed that there isn't a similar Compassionate Communities setup in England as there is in Scotland. It would be a valuable asset in our efforts to have this.
As the lead for this initiative, I've found it helpful to create a document with links to videos and other resources that can bring our pharmacists, locums, and other staff up to speed on the Daffodil Standards. This way, we can ensure that everyone on our team is well-informed and ready to provide the best care possible.
Our journey is both rewarding and challenging. We're committed to providing compassionate and comprehensive care to our patients and their families, and we'll keep working towards quality improvement and making a difference in our community. Stay tuned for more updates on our progress.
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