BMA calls for improved end of life care training

The British Medical Association (BMA) has concluded that improvements to training and support are ‘crucial’ to enable doctors to meet patients’ end of life care needs.

In the third volume of the BMA’s report into end of life care, it claims that there is a ‘clear desire’ among doctors to see better support and training in this area.

The report found that end of life care was inconsistent across the country, with many doctors lacking confidence in discussing end of life with patients and properly assess their mental capacity.

As a result, the BMA is calling on the government to improve training provision, which it claims wouldn’t necessarily have a large cost attached.

The BMA’s Ian Wilson said: “There is a clear desire amongst doctors to have better support and training to help improve the care they can offer patients at the end of their lives. Both doctors and the public recognise the pressures on doctors’ time and the challenges of delivering on people’s choices, and of meeting their expectations.

“Being realistic in our expectations should not limit our ambitions to improve; the information we have gathered indicates that there are many improvements that might be made without seismic change or massive investment.

“Nonetheless, there is much that government should and could do to ensure the best of end-of-life care is available and accessible to all — much of which could even have a beneficial impact on current financial, and other, challenges.”