How To Get Involved

1. Agree as a primary care team that you want to improve end of life care
2. Nominate a practice co-ordinator and a lead GP
3. Register your practice with your PCT GSF facilitator if available
4. Sign up on the GSF website for newsletters and updates. Find useful resources.
5. Consider use of the After Death Analysis (ADA) and Quality improvement training programme.
6. Continue with step by step implementation of GSF For Use of GSF in England

Contact the GSF team to discuss your particular needs. The new Quality Improvement Support Package is highly recommended. This includes training for practice teams, after death analysis and support for the facilitator/PCT. Steps might include:

1. Register yourself with the National GSF Centre as a facilitator or end of life lead
2. Nominate or appoint GSF Facilitator(s) in your PCT/area.
3. Enrol practices and/or care homes

• Quality Improvement Training Programme Flyer
• Primary Care Briefing Paper
• Information for Commissioners

It is recommended that each area, such as a PCT or practice based commissioning group, supports and funds a GSF facilitator to develop local interest and introduce measures to raise the quality of care in a number of practices with audit to show effectiveness. Some PCT facilitators has been funded or seconded to work 2-4 sessions per week to implement GSF, whereas other facilitators have been funded full time for a fixed period. GSF Facilitators come from many different backgrounds, but the majority have been GPs or District Nurses, Clinical Nurse Specialists or project managers. Many Macmillan GP Facilitators undertake this as part of their role, and many CNSs or Macmillan nurses use GSF to help enhance their community role. Increasingly, SHAs and Palliative Care Networks are appointing people to facilitate this work across a number of PCTs, as part of the NHS End of Life Care programme.

The PCT GSF facilitator supports the GSF practices, organises local GSF practice co-ordinator meetings, organises registration of practices and collection of GSF questionnaires to send to the national GSF team. The National GSF Centre will support the PCT facilitators through workshops, advice line, newsletter and website resources including a password protected facilitator support section.

It is strongly recommended that all Facilitators make themselves known to the National GSF Centre as soon as they are appointed, to receive regular news, support, updates, resources and training and take part in the GSF Evaluation - so please ensure your facilitator is known to us!

For International use of GSF please contact the National GSF Centre

GSF has been developed from within the NHS in England, for use by UK NHS Primary Care Teams. It can however be adapted for use within the healthcare system of countries outside the UK.