Hampshire's health overview and scrutiny committee (HOSC) has been asked to review the services and care provided in Hampshire for those aged 65 or more, who have been diagnosed as being near the end of their lives. The review will consider key areas including: choice of place in which to die, information and communications for patients and their families, support to carers and access to remote and multi-disciplinary team working and joint commissioning arrangements. Hampshire County Council's executive member for adult services, Patricia Banks has asked that the HOSC reviews this issue and, at a meeting in July, the HOSC agreed to delegate its powers to a working group of members to set the terms of reference for the review. The group will gather evidence by inviting key stakeholders to give evidence at select committee sessions. Those invited will include: NHS commissioners, PCT; NHS providers, acute, PCT; HCC commissioners, adult services; HCC providers, adult services; voluntary and charity sector and the private sector. The review will also consider how working arrangements between different services and service providers contribute to meeting national standards, best practice, and related national policy. Once established, the group will invite the views of local people, including service users, relatives and carers about these services. More information can be found on the dedicated web-site: http://www.hants.gov.uk/">www.hants.gov.uk/ healthscrutiny/eolcare.html which will allow people to comment and take part in the review. The chairman of Hampshire's HOSC, Dr Ray Ellis said: "This is a real chance for the HOSC to provide an independent report into a very critical area. It is vital that people in Hampshire, who are nearing the end of their lives, receive the care they want, in a dignified manner. "The aim of the review is to provide a detailed analysis of current services and arrangements for the care of people over 65 at the end of their lives. "It will suggest recommendations where appropriate for service improvement and improved working arrangements between service providers. "And it will identify issues of financial challenge and offer recommendations for better sustainable funding where appropriate. "We will, of course, keep service users, relatives and carers informed and engaged throughout this review and look forward to receiving comments from them, once a formal process of feedback has been established."
