End of Life Matters HIT highlighted in national report

The End of Life Matters Health Integration Team (ELM HIT) has been highlighted in a new national research report published this week.

Bridging the Gap is by the charity Compassion in Dying, which is a key partner in the NHS England team for Palliative Care and End of Life Care.

The report presents insight from the charity’s research and sets out practical, achievable recommendations to bridge the gap between policy intention and practice to ensure that care at the end of life is universally driven by what people want for themselves.

ELM HIT is cited as an example of ‘learning from local innovation’ (see page 25). The report says:

ELM HIT is an example of regional innovation designed to strengthen confidence, shared responsibility, and collaboration in end-of-life care. The HIT provides a platform for co-production between public contributors, academics, health and social care providers, voluntary sector partners, and community organisations. Through convening events, sharing expertise, supporting local initiatives, and co-developing research and improvement projects, the HIT helps create the conditions for people and professionals across different settings to feel more connected and supported when navigating decisions about future care, treatment escalation, and individuals’ priorities and preferences.

Examples of initiatives include co-developing guidance for social care staff to support advance care planning conversations, and partnership working with Marie Curie, University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, and the One Weston Care Home Hub to establish a shared strategic vision for palliative and end-of-life care across North Somerset. The HIT also hosts in-person, system wide network events that bring together diverse perspectives to better understand current challenges and opportunities.