Published: March 10th, 2017. Christian Concern.
Healthcare workers should do more to talk to dying patients about faith,
experts have said.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has advised
health workers and care workers to do more to discuss patients’ social, cultural
and religious preferences.
It
comes as a 2016 report showed that spiritual wishes were only documented for one
in seven people dying in English hospitals, who were able to communicate in
their final days.
End of life care 'goes far beyond' pain management
NICE said that three-quarters of deaths in England each year are
anticipated by medical staff.
The organisation has set out a series of measures designed to help
patients in their final days – addressing spiritual concerns as well as physical
ones.
Sam Ahmedzai, who is professor of palliative medicine and a specialist
member of the NICE quality standard committee said: "Control
of pain and other distressing symptoms is very important for dying people, but
good end of life care goes far beyond that.
"It includes asking about the dying person’s spiritual, cultural,
religious and social preferences. Only by attending to these issues and concerns
can we deliver truly individualised care for each person and those important to
them.
"Nice
wants to put the dying person and those important to them at the heart of
decisions. This means asking people what they want and providing what they need,
whenever possible."
Importance of discussing spiritual beliefs
Revd Dr Malcolm Brown, who is the director of mission and public affairs
in the Church of England, welcomed the new advice.
"We
particularly welcome the advice to ask people, as they approach death, about
their spiritual and religious concerns," he
said.
"People’s views and needs can change radically as the inevitability of
death approaches and dying can be eased considerably if careful opportunities to
express or discuss these matters are created.
"For people approaching death who would like to discuss questions of
religion and spirituality, or who wish for religious rites to be observed,
chaplains in the NHS and in hospices are experienced in providing this dimension
of care.
"Chaplains,
of different religions and beliefs, are also available to support healthcare
staff in broaching these questions with dying
patients."
Nurse fired for talking about faith
The new advice contrasts sharply with the experience of Sarah Kuteh, a nurse who was fired for talking about
faith with patients whilst helping them to prepare
for surgery.
Sarah, from Bexley, had 15 years' experience as a nurse. Part of Sarah’s
job involved helping patients to fill out pre-op questionnaires, which included
questions about the patients’ faith.
But Sarah was investigated and dismissed this August for "gross
misconduct".
Supported by the Christian Legal Centre, the mother-of-three is seeking
reinstatement and
compensation.
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