Hospitals will remain the most common place of death for the foreseeable future and there is a need to improve the experience of dying in hospital. This article evaluates the use of a Family's Voice (FV) diary to aid communication between clinical staff and relatives. Nine sites took part in the study, consisting of 7 acute trusts, an NHS hospice and a group of nursing homes. 112 diaries were completed. Ten themes were identified following analysis of the diaries, and provided a good insight into what families observed and felt was important. Some symptoms were managed better than others but overall families were positive about the care provided. For hospices, where quality of care is already noted to be higher than in hospitals, the authors note further work is needed to explore whether the FV diary could be of use.
McEvoy, M., Scott, E., Blenkinsopp, J., Hamilton, S. 2018. Listening to the family's voice: evaluation of a tool to improve symptom control and communication. International Journal of Palliative Nursing, 24(11) p 548.