A NEW project that aims to improve end of life care for patients in Oxfordshire has been launched by healthcare partners and charities in the county.

The EARLY project, named after the software that helps identify people who may require end of life support, is funded by the Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (OCCG), with help from Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH).

It aims to support practice nurses and health professionals working in GP surgeries and helping them improve their skills in discussing patient wishes around end-of-life care. The project will also help patients who need end of life care to explore their options.

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The EARLY project is underway at Sobell House and Katharine House Hospice, which both provide end-of-life care in Oxfordshire and have provided direct input into the development of the project.

Mary Walding, lead specialist nurse for palliative care at OUH, said: “Getting end-of-life care right is extremely important. One of the key aims of the EARLY project is to get patients talking about what they want from their care – significant choices such as where they want to receive their care can make all the difference.

"Some people may want hospice care, others may prefer to be at home with their familiar comforts as they come to the end of their life. By having these conversations, we can help make this happen and plan ahead.”

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