Talking Prognosis and DNACPR

At the end of 2018, the UCLPartners Deteriorating Patient Network identified a need for more training for clinicians undertaking advance care planning and DNACPR conversations, particularly with frail patients or those with long term health conditions; this has also been identified at a national level.

In response to this need we are developing a faculty to deliver Talking Prognosis and DNACPR training for acute, community and primary care settings across our region. The training course has been adapted from the highly successful Talking DNACPR course from UCLH.

Course details

The Talking Prognosis and DNACPR short course aims to:

• Improve the knowledge, skills and behaviours of clinicians undertaking conversations with patients and families about advance care planning and DNACPR decisions
• Promote a model of behaviour change training where it is normal practice to seek early and appropriate advance care planning and DNACPR conversations with patients and their families
• Address clinicians’ anxieties, both in knowledge and communication skills, when approaching these potentially challenging conversations
• Improve the experience of patients and families participating in advance care planning and DNACPR conversations
• Assure Trusts that their staff are appropriately skilled and supported in this important and challenging area

Training Model

We will train a core faculty, drawn from our partner organisations, who will deliver Talking Prognosis and DNACPR training across acute, community and primary care settings across our region.

Faculty members will deliver the training in pairs in their own and partner organisations.

It is anticipated that this reciprocal arrangement for training will allow for rich, multidisciplinary, cross-setting learning between professionals. It will also allow each organisation to keep costs to a minimum.