GPs and general practice teams from around the UK have been awarded for their contributions to providing excellent end of life care services to their local communities in the first ever Daffodil Standards Awards.
Launched by the UK’s leading end of life charity Marie Curie and the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP), the awards aim to identify and celebrate the best end of life care practice by GPs and practice teams.
Nominees were chosen for their hard work and collaboration in implementing The Daffodil Standards, a set of voluntary standards developed by Marie Curie and RCGP to help practices assess and improve the end of life care they provide.
The winners attended the RCGP Annual Conference and Exhibition on 19 October 2023, where they were presented with their awards by the Chair of the RCGP, Professor Kamila Hawthorne and Marie Curie’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr Sarah Holmes.
Marie Curie’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr Sarah Holmes said: “We have been working with the RCGP for over nine years, and I am very pleased to see our work with the College resulting in our first Daffodil Standards awards.
“We all know the hugely important role GPs and other practice staff play in the care and support people get at the end of their lives – this will only increase in the coming years.
The new Standards show how GP Practices have improved patient experience and improved the quality of end of life care provided.”
Taking home the award for Best Management and Receptionist General Practice Team Member of the Year, Reception Admin Tina Clark from Holmfirth was recognised for her team’s commitment to consistent support to care for patients, while Advance Nurse Practitioner Louise Lee received the Best GP Practice Clinical Team Member award for her ‘meaningful and consistent approach’ to quality improvement for patients in Grantham.
Portsdown Group Practice in Portsmouth received the GP Practice of the Year award for their whole-team approach to introducing new processes and systems to help patients navigating the end of life, while Argyle Home Care Service in London received the GP Practice – Caring for People in Care Home award for their systematic approach to increasing care and support planning to a substantial number of care residents.
The award for GP of the Year went to Dr Lindsey Raeburn from Thirsk, who was commended for her focused work and achievements to support end of life care and carers, alongside her team.
Dr Raeburn said: “I am just a small piece in a very big engine and without the hard work of the rest of the practice staff – from the nurses, health care assistants, receptionists & dispensers – all working together to do the best for our patients we can’t function well.
“Our common goal is providing patient-centred care with ideally the same GP as a patient reaches the last chapters of their lives.
“Working through The Daffodil Standards has allowed us to cement that what we are doing within the practice is meeting all the standards required. I can’t recommend working through the standards as a practice enough, it makes you stop, check, and if needed, improve, so that we remain the ethos of why we all entered General Practice – to provide patient-centred quality care from cradle to grave.”
Commending the award winners, Chair of the RCGP, Professor Kamila Hawthorne added:
“Despite the challenges we’re all facing in primary care, the dedication and passion of these winning GP teams truly inspires hope, going above and beyond, caring for people and their families at the end of life and during bereavement.
“Reading through all the shortlisted applications, with our expert team of judges has been a real privilege. It is important to recognise and celebrate the excellent work in general practice. We are delighted to share inspiring practice with colleagues, across the UK, through the Daffodil Standards awards.”
Launched in 2019, the Daffodil Standards are a set of eight quality improvement statements designed to support primary care teams in delivering care to patients living with an advanced, serious illness, or at the end of their lives, and their loved ones. The core areas cover professional and competent staff; early identification; carer support – before and after death; seamless, planned, coordinated care; assessment of unique needs of the patient; quality care during the last days of life; care after death and General Practice being hubs within Compassionate Communities.
————————
About Marie Curie
Marie Curie is the UK’s leading end of life charity.
The charity provides expert end of life care for people with any illness they are likely to die from, and support for their family and friends, in our hospices and where they live. It is the largest charity funder of palliative and end of life care research in the UK, and campaigns to ensure everyone has a good end of life experience. Whatever the illness, we’re with you to the end.
If you’re living with a terminal illness or have been affected by dying, death and bereavement, Marie Curie can help. Visit www.mariecurie.org.uk or call the free Marie Curie Support Line on 0800 090 2309.
Whatever the illness, wherever you are, Marie Curie is with you to the end.
About The Royal College of General Practitioners
The Royal College of General Practitioners is a network of more than 54,000 family doctors working to improve care for patients. We work to encourage and maintain the highest standards of general medical practice and act as the voice of GPs on education, training, research and clinical standards.
Leave a Reply