{
  "abstract": "Background and Aims Advance Care Planning (ACP) ensures patients’ wishes and preferences guide their medical care and discharge planning. However, ACP discussions are often underutilised or overlooked for a variety of reasons, particularly in the acute setting. These include time constraints, lack of staff training, and inconsistent documentation. Our quality improvement project aimed to increase ACP discussions and standardise documentation among hospitalised patients through a structured multidisciplinary approach.Methods We used Ward 11 (a 32-bedded ward) of Blackpool Teaching Hospitals as a trial ward and implemented targeted interventions, including intensive staff education sessions, development of an ACP proforma and proactive patient engagement strategies. This was done via a series of Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles. Baseline data on ACP completion rates were collected and follow-up audits assessed progress. Regular feedback was collected to refine the implemented interventions.Results In the period of 22 November 2024 – 25 February 2025 the rates of ACP discussions and documentation increased from 29% to 71%. Medical staff reported greater confidence in initiating ACP conversations. An increasing number of staff members have expressed interest in getting involved with the project which we hope to roll out across the trust. Integrating ACP discussions in daily ward rounds and discharge planning discussions helped manage time constraints.Conclusions A structured MDT-driven approach can significantly improve engagement with ACP discussions, ensuring that patients’ preferences are heard, respected, and better incorporated into care planning. Continued education, electronic medical record refinements, and policy support will be crucial to sustaining these improvements long-term.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Trinity Hospice and Palliative Care Services, Blackpool, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Kirsty Jones"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Blackpool Teaching Hospitals, Blackpool, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Anastasia Pseftinakou"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Blackpool Teaching Hospitals, Blackpool, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Laura McManus"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Blackpool Teaching Hospitals, Blackpool, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Sajid Iqbal"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Blackpool Teaching Hospitals, Blackpool, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Amy Swords"
    }
  ],
  "title": "P-10 Once in a lifetime project – improving advance care planning discussions",
  "uid": "2552f09f-0fc7-5767-b66d-0be7c676c8a9"
}