ReSPECT FAQs

The ReSPECT process has already been adopted across Nottinghamshire and by NUH joining the process ensures that your clinical care wishes are known across all care settings. Your wishes can then be considered in a medical emergency if you are too unwell to explain them yourself. 

Your ReSPECT plan can be used across a range of health and care settings, including your own home, an ambulance, a care home, hospice or hospital.

Read more here about ReSPECT being introduced across the UK. Countries of the UK are at different stages in this process: https://www.resus.org.uk/respect/respect-patients-and-carers/respect-adoption-uk

Ask your GP to have a ReSPECT conversation with you so that you can make a plan together. Your GP often knows your health and care needs best and can complete the document with you. You could also ask your specialist doctor or nurse if you have regular outpatient appointments for a chronic condition or longer term illness. Some people find it helpful to have this conversation when they are reasonably well so that the plan is in place.

If you are staying in the hospital you can ask your healthcare team about the ReSPECT process. The hospital team will have a ReSPECT conversation with you if they think it would benefit you.

No. ReSPECT recommendations are to guide immediate decision-making by health and care professionals responding to an emergency situation.  However, they should be able to give valid reasons for overriding recommendations on a ReSPECT plan.

• Any member of your healthcare team including your GP
• Those closest to you
• A chaplain from our Multifaith Department of Spiritual and Pastoral Care
• Your own spiritual adviser
• Patient support organisations such as Age UK, Macmillan Cancer Support and other condition specific charities
• Dying Matters - let’s talk about it www.dyingmatters.org/
• Independent advocacy services. An advocacy service can help you express your views or make your own decisions, or can speak on your behalf.

• Guidance from the British Medical Association (BMA), the Resuscitation Council (UK), and the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) can be found at:  www.resus.org.uk/dnacpr/decisions-relating-to-cpr/ 
• Advance Decision to Refuse Treatment:  https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/end-of-life-care/advance-decision-to-refuse-treatment/ 
• Lasting Power of Attorney - Health and Welfare: www.gov.uk/ government/organisations/office-of-the-public-guardian 
• ReSPECT: https://www.resus.org.uk/respect 
• Dying isn’t as bad as you think – a BBC video with palliative care consultant Dr Kathryn Mannix https://youtu.be/CruBRZh8quc