ReSPECT

ReSPECT stands for Recommended Summary Plan for Emergency Care and Treatment.

This page offers some general information about:

What the ReSPECT process is

What CPR is, what it can and can’t do

Why it is important to talk emergency care planning and CPR

Further down the page, you will find a selection of ReSPECT resources and helpful links. These have been designed by the Resuscitation Council (UK) and are available in written, easy read and video format.

There is also an FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) section.

Your healthcare team is always willing to talk about emergency care planning and decisions about CPR with you. Please don’t hesitate to ask them. Understanding and talking about CPR is not easy and can be upsetting. We suggest you take your time over the content of this page. You might want to read a bit, have a break and return to it another time.

What is the ReSPECT process?

The ReSPECT process consists of one or more conversations between you and your healthcare professionals. Together you decide which types of care and treatment you would or would not want to be considered for in an emergency.

The agreed plan is recorded in a ReSPECT document. The plan will be placed in your medical notes for the duration of your admission and will then be given to you upon discharge. It is important that you keep this document in a safe place at home where you, or someone else, would be able to find it in the event of an emergency. Once completed, it should be available immediately to healthcare professionals called to help you in an emergency at home or in hospital.

How does the ReSPECT process work?

The first step of ReSPECT process is a conversation between you and one or more health professionals involved in your care. This leads to a plan being made and written in a ReSPECT document. You can choose to include your family, friends and or carer(s) in these discussions.

What is a ReSPECT conversation about?

ü ReSPECT conversations are about coming to a shared agreement of your health and care needs and the ways these could change in an emergency.

ü Your preferences for your future care and treatment in an emergency form the next part of the discussion.

ü This is followed by agreeing and recording recommendations that are realistic and could help you to be cared for in the way that you wish.

ü The conversation will also involve a discussion about cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and whether this would or would not be of benefit given your health conditions.

The ReSPECT process is intended to respect both patient preferences and clinical judgement. It is important to understand that the ReSPECT plan cannot be used to demand treatments that are not likely to benefit you and would not be offered.

Sometimes conversations like these can make us think about our future or the future of our loved ones. While this can make us feel sad, knowing that a plan has been made can help to ease our worries.

Once a plan has been made we will put a copy of it in your medical notes so that we can use it while you are in hospital. The original plan will be given to you to take home so that it will be available to any health and care professional who needs to understand your wishes. We will also inform your GP that we have written a ReSPECT plan.