Scotland comes clean

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Adam Stachura- Director of AGE Scotland

As an example, somebody got in touch with us later on in 2020 who was concerned about their grandfather who is a veteran.

We understand from this exchange that

paramedics arrived at his door one day and they handed him a bit of paper and said, "you need to keep this by your bed".

It was a DNACPR decision document or slip.

The slip was signed by a clinician that said discussion had been had with patient and reason was just two words "communication difficulties".

(Presumably, linked to his hearing loss).

In this instance the DNACPR was not about them having any condition that would mean there is substantial or significant underlying health

condition, which would be challenging if they contracted COVID;

they were being written off because it was hard to communicate with them.

Even if it was the case that someone might face difficulties if they contracted COVID-19, why on earth is there a pre-emptive DNACPR?

And particularly so with no discussion or any form of dignified process for the

recipient.

…. we had a sense that this was also be happening in care homes, where all residents were having DNACPR decisions issued in a blanket manner,

not on an individual basis.

I heard of examples where there were cases of COVID in care homes, a medical response was not forthcoming.

COVID was simply going to go through the care home and there was not the resources to help everyone.

And it would be said that "we're not transferring you to hospital because you're in a sort of a safe

place.

We'll try and manage your condition as best we can in the care home environment".

We also found examples of people who upon leaving hospital found DNACPR decisions in their discharge papers without any discussion having

been had with them.

The box was ticked which said they had had a

discussion, where in fact none was.

It was the end of May 2020, I think, when it was becoming apparent that there were so many of these instances.

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