Covid: Watchdog finds more than 500 cases of 'do not resuscitate' orders made without discussion

Individuals’ human rights were potentially breached in more than 500 cases where 'do not resuscitate' decisions were made during the coronavirus pandemic, the care regulator has said.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has called for ministerial involvement to tackle the “worrying variation” in people’s experiences of do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation (DNACPR) decisions, with some families not properly involved and others unaware that decisions had been made.

It said that a combination of “unprecedented pressure” on providers and “rapidly developing guidance” may have led to situations where DNACPR decisions were incorrectly conflated with other clinical assessments.

There were examples of good practice but the regulator also found a “worrying picture” of poor involvement of people using services, poor record keeping, and a lack of oversight and scrutiny of the decisions being made.

But it noted that the issues raised – such as the need for proper, consistent processes around timely conversations about people’s care – pre-dated the pandemic.

The CQC was asked by the Department of Health and Social Care to conduct a rapid review of how DNACPR decisions were used at the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

It followed concerns that decisions were being made without the involvement of patients or relatives, and that they were being applied in a blanket way to particular groups, for example people with learning disabilities.

The CQC produced an interim report in December which found that doctors may have made blanket decisions without the input of patients or their families during the first wave of the pandemic.

The latest report includes evidence from seven Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs), responses from adult social care providers, a public survey and voluntary sector organisations.

Some 2,048 adult social care providers responded to the CQC, and said that 508 DNACPR decisions made since March 17 2020 had not been agreed in discussion with the person, their relative or carer.

Around a third (180) were still in place in December.

And, while responsibility for making DNACPR decisions does not largely rest with adult social care providers, 119 providers said people in their care had been subject to blanket DNACPR decisions since March 2020.

The CQC said the figures raised concerns about whether the providers making these decisions were at risk of breaching the Equality Act 2010.

Stella Clarke told ITV News of how she was told by a GP that they would add a DNR order to her records.

When receiving a call to discuss a routine eye test on April 3 last year, Ms Clarke says she explained there was no need for a test for another year.

Ms Clarke then said she was asked what she would do if she caught Covid – she said she would stay at home – but was told the surgery would add a DNR order to her name.

She asked for that not to happen and the surgery has confirmed no such order was given, as she requested.

“I was so taken aback,” she said.

Most providers of adult social care, and primary and secondary care, said they were not aware of inappropriate DNACPR decisions.

But other stakeholders, service users, families and carers said blanket DNACPR decisions had been proposed locally.

The regulator heard evidence that these decisions were “quickly challenged and retracted”.

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One person told the CQC: “I only found out about the (DNACPR) when they were discharged from hospital; no-one had mentioned it to me before nor to the person concerned. It was a tremendous shock.”

Another said: “I felt pressured to accept the decision of the doctors as they illustrated a terrible picture (i.e. immense suffering of the person) if I did not.”

It is calling for a Ministerial Oversight Group to work with health and care providers, local government and the voluntary sector to deliver improvements.

It wants to see a consistent national approach to advance care planning, with staff training, accessible information for families and records of conversations and decisions agreed.

Rosie Benneyworth, chief inspector of Primary Medical Services and Integrated Care at the CQC, said: “It is vital we get this right and ensure better end-of-life care as a whole health and social care system, with health and social care providers, local government and the voluntary sector working together.

“Covid-19 has brought this to the fore but these are not new issues.”

Age UK said the approach to advance care planning needed a “complete overhaul”, with strengthened support for professionals and families with concerns.

It was also calling for a review so that any “hasty, ill-informed decisions” could be removed from older people’s records.

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An NHS spokesman said: “The NHS has repeatedly instructed local clinicians and services that the blanket DNA(CPR) decisions would be unacceptable – including on three separate occasions in less than a month at the start of the pandemic, and again last week – and that access to treatment and care for people should be and is made on an individual basis in consultation with family and carers.”

A DHSC spokesperson said: “It is totally unacceptable for ‘Do Not Attempt CPR’ orders to be applied in any kind of blanket fashion – this has never been policy and we have taken decisive action to prevent it from happening, working closely with the health and care sector to make this clear and asking the CQC to undertake this review.

“We support the recommendations in this report and we are determined to ensure everyone receives the compassionate care they deserve in all settings.”