Resuscitation and ReSPECT Policy

Executive Summary

This Policy sets out the principles by which patients who have suffered a cardiac arrest whilst under the care of Ashford & St Peter’s NHS Foundation Trust are managed in accordance with current European and UK Resuscitation Council guidelines. This policy is fully in accordance with the recommendations for clinical practice and training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation published by the Resuscitation Council (UK 2017) and has been constructed to promote compliance with regulatory requirements and best practice.

This Policy also sets out the principles and guidance on a Recommended Summary Plan for Emergency Care and Treatment (ReSPECT) decision. ReSPECT is a process that creates personalised recommendations for a person’s clinical care in a future emergency in which they are unable to make or express choices. It provides health and care professionals responding to that emergency with a summary of recommendations to help them to make immediate decisions about that person’s care and treatment.

All clinical areas where a cardiac arrest may occur must have adequate resources available and clearly visible. All cardiac arrest equipment must be checked on a daily basis and also after each use, this being documented in order to ensure continual availability of emergency equipment in those areas. All staff must be familiar with the resuscitation equipment located in their workplace or know where the nearest resuscitation equipment is located. All clinical staff must attend adult basic life support training and those working in an area which routinely deals with children, must also be trained in paediatric basic life support.

The Trust will support the resuscitation training it delivers by ensuring adequate resources are available to provide relevant levels of training to staff members specific to their role and speciality in managing a cardiac arrest. This will include having experienced Resuscitation Officers, a dedicated resuscitation training room and appropriate resuscitation training equipment.

Policy Details

See also:

• Recognition of and Response to Acutely Ill Adult Patients in Ward Environments Policy
• Oxygen Policy