Extending Choice over Where Patients with Motor Neurone Disease Receive End-of-life Care

The law allows every individual to make decisions about his/her medical treatment and the care that he/she is offered. High profile coverage in the popular media on assisted suicide and euthanasia has brought decisions made by people with terminal diseases to the forefront. However, people living with motor neurone disease (also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) often lose their ability to communicate their preferences in the later stages of the disease, and have more difficulty accessing services than those individuals with other life-limiting and life-threatening conditions such as cancer. A number of systems are being put into place to improve palliative care services for all care groups. One of the tools promoted by the NHS End of Life Care programme is the Preferred Place of Care initiative. This paper provides an overview to the development of the Preferred Place of Care process and describes how it has been implemented for the benefit of people living with motor neurone disease in Lancashire and South Cumbria.