Views and experiences of palliative and end-of-life care in Oxfordshire

Healthwatch Oxfordshire used a survey and phone interviews to hear from 110 local residents about their views and experiences of palliative and end-of-life care for adults in Oxfordshire. It asked what is important to people towards the end of their lives, and what might support people to have conversations about their wishes with family, friends, or health and care professionals. Healthwatch Oxfordshire also asked people about experiences they had had of end-of-life or palliative care services.

Healthwatch Oxfordshire heard that many people had clear and consistent priorities about what mattered to them most at the end of life: being close to loved ones, feeling safe and comfortable, and receiving good quality care. Most people said they would prefer to die at home or in a hospice rather than in a care home or hospital. Although many people had thought about or discussed their wishes, not everyone had made formal plans and some people said they were unsure about how and when to have end-of-life conversations.

People told Healthwatch Oxfordshire about positive aspects of palliative and end-of-life care, including having control over decisions, management of symptoms and pain, being treated with dignity and compassion, and receiving support that recognised both the patient as a whole person and those close to them. However, some people had experienced challenges including difficulties accessing support and services, gaps in communication, lack of coordination between different health and care providers, poor communication, and inadequate quality and continuity of care. 

People suggested improvements to palliative and end-of-life care including around information and access to support and services; communication and encouraging earlier conversations about end-of-life wishes; strengthening coordination between services; strengthening staff capacity and skills, and increasing support for families. 

Based on what it heard, Healthwatch Oxfordshire made a series of recommendations for improvements. The report and recommendations has been shared with Thames Valley Integrated Care Board, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Oxfordshire County Council and other health and care-decision makers in Oxfordshire.