What is the Gold Standards Framework?
The Gold Standards Framework (GSF) for Primary Care is a systematic approach to improving the quality and organisation of care for all people nearing the end of life leading to better patient outcomes in line with their needs and preferences and greater cost efficiency through hospitalisation.
Going for Gold Training Programme
A review in 2008-9 affirmed the considerable success of GSF since 2000, but highlighted gaps in 4 areas: consistency, effectiveness, equity for non-cancer patients and quality care. So in June 2009 we launched the GSF New Quality Improvement Training Programme 'Going for Gold', an updated practice-based programme that leads to quality recognition/accreditation and includes updated tools and resources.
Going for Gold Training Programme flyer
What are the key benefits? - Improved delivery of high quality patient care aligned to patient choices
- More dying in preferred place - more home deaths, fewer hospital deaths
- Improved cost effectiveness by reducing hospital admissions and bed days
- Improved identification, coordination and earlier planning of care
- More patients with advance care planning discussions
- Workload - practice teams working 'smarter', making life easier and more satisfying
- Increased staff confidence and team-working with evidence of progress made
Why get involved?
GSF helps you attain local policy targets, DH End of Life Care Quality Markers, in line with the national strategies of the DH, the RCGP, RCN and Transforming Community Services. It encourages cross boundary working, linked to GSF programmes in care homes, hospitals and other areas.
Practice review and audit is an integral part of GSF, as are measures to improve consistency and dependability of care provided. There is now a substantial evidence base for the use of GSF in Primary Care - see the Library Section and/or the Primary Care Summary which is currently being updated.
| How to get involved: - Agree as a primary care team that you want to improve end of life care
- Nominate a practice coordinator and a lead GP
- Register your practice with your PCT GSF Facilitator if available
- Sign up on the GSF website for newsletters and updates. Find useful resources.
- Consider use of the After Death Analysis (ADA) and Quality Improvement Training Programme
For more details view How To Get Involved National Snapshot Audit Findings 2009 The National Primary Care Snapshot Audit in End of Life Care (2009) is the biggest assessment of primary care provision as yet undertaken in England. It was commissioned by the Department of Health End of Life Care Programme and other PCT’s and the DH report is included below: In summary the 3 key messages are: 1.Only 25% of all patient deaths were included on the palliative care register 2.Only 23% of these were non-cancer patients 3.However, most importantly, patients on the register received better coordinated care. 4.Therefore the conclusion is that earlier identification of patients near the end of life, with better care planning will lead to improved end of life care. See Poster summary, Department of Health Executive summary and Department of Health Report (100 pages in colour) below: Poster Summary for Lisbon Conference of GSF Primary Care Snapshot Audit National Snapshot Primary Care 2009 - Executive Summary National Snapshot Primary Care 2009 - Full Document |
Dr David Colin-Thome
National Director for Primary Care, Department of Health |
The College is pleased to support GSF, as a major component of the new RCGP End of Life Care Strategy. It is clear that end of life care should be part of the core business of general practice, and GSF provides a standard against which we can measure our practice and a means to further improve it.
Prof Nigel Mathers, Chair CIRC, RCG
