The PPC can help you and your carers (your family, friends, and professionals) to understand what is important to you when planning your care. If a time comes when, for whatever reason, you are unable to decide for yourself, anyone who must make decisions about your care on your behalf will have to action anything you have written in your PPC.
If you are being cared for at home or in a care home, your GP has overall responsibility for your care. The people providing your care should ask you about your wishes and preferences and take these into account as they work with you, your family, and your GP to plan your end of life care. There are several useful websites and publications providing information about planning ahead and end of life care.
The PPC is not meant to be used for legally binding refusals of specific medical treatments in advance. Find out more by visiting www.nhs.uk/Planners/ end-of-life-care/Documents/Preferred_ Priorities_for_Care.pdf
Visit www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk (search ‘End of Life Care’) or www.compassionindying.org.uk
Palliative Care Hub This is a free telephone service for anyone in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough who needs specialist palliative care advice or support. It is available to patients, family, friends, carers, GPs, and other health care professionals. Anyone who has been diagnosed with a life-limiting illness can access the service. The hub can give advice and support where able, signpost to appropriate services, transfer you to another healthcare professional that can better
help you, or complete necessary referrals to other services. You can contact the hub by calling 111 (select option three) to speak to a clinical nurse specialist. If you are being cared for at home or in a care home, your GP has overall responsibility for your care. The people providing your care should ask you about your wishes and preferences and take these into account as they work with you, your family, and your GP to plan your end of life care.
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