We recently published a guide to what you should include in a care plan. Essentially, a care plan should outline an individual’s care needs, along with their preferences, routines, medication requirements, and whatever other information is necessary to ensure they get the support they need.
A well-developed Person-Centred Care plan does more than outline an individual’s care and support needs, it reflects who they are as a person, including their preferences, daily routines, communication needs, medication, personal goals, and what matters most to them. This helps ensure they receive compassionate, personalised support that promotes their dignity, independence, and wellbeing.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at Emergency Healthcare Plans and why they are an important part of person-centred care. An emergency healthcare plan provides clear guidance on the individual’s wishes and the actions that should be taken if they experience a medical emergency, helping to ensure they receive timely, appropriate, and consistent care when it matters most.
What is an Emergency Health Care Plan (EHCP)?
An emergency health care plan (EHCP) is a written document containing clear instructions for families, carers, and medical professionals regarding what should happen if an individual experiences a health emergency.
EHCPs are designed to make communication as fast and efficient as possible, so as to ensure that the individual gets the treatment they need with minimal delay. This is particularly important for individuals with complex healthcare needs or multiple long-term conditions.
EHCPs are also useful for people at risk of predictable medical emergencies, such as epilepsy, diabetes, or severe allergies.
Who Should Write an Emergency Health Care Plan?
The individual should be directly involved in creating their EHCP, providing they have capacity. If they do not have capacity to make decisions for themselves, anyone involved in creating the plan must follow the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
If the emergency healthcare plan is being developed for a child with complex healthcare needs, the child should be involved wherever appropriate, taking into account their age, understanding, and ability to participate. Parents, guardians, or those with parental responsibility will also play a key role in creating the plan, ensuring it reflects the child’s individual needs, preferences, and what matters most to them.
The plan may also be developed in collaboration with a range of professionals, including lead clinicians, GPs, community nurses, paramedics, hospital teams, and social care services. By working together, everyone involved can help ensure the plan provides clear, coordinated guidance that supports the individual to receive safe, timely, and person-centred care during a health emergency.
What Should an Emergency Health Care Plan Include?
A medical summary
This should include details of the individual’s:
- Symptoms and active health concerns
- Current treatments they are undertaking
- Medication that they would only need in an emergency situation.
Possible emergencies
The plan should outline:
- Foreseeable emergencies: Several foreseeable emergencies, including infections, seizures, breathing difficulties, or sudden deterioration of their condition.
- Spotting signs and responses: For each of these situations, it should explain how to spot the signs, along with some key first aid responses.
- Emergency contacts: It should also specify when one should call for urgent help, with all necessary contact information.
- Details instructions: It should provide detailed instructions for healthcare professionals regarding the next steps.
Care needs
The EHCP should specify the individual’s preferences for their treatment following an emergency. This should cover:
- Hospital transfers
- Escalating care requirements
- Details on when CPR is and is not appropriate
How To Share and Communicate Your Emergency Health Care Plan
The EHCP should be kept wherever the individual receives the majority of their care, whether this is in the home, in a specialist caring facility, or in a professional healthcare setting.
An EHCP should be brief, and written in plain and single language. You should aim to keep a single current version, which should be signed and dated by a lead clinician, so that anybody who consults the plan can be sure they are following the most up-to-date procedures.
You should aim to review the plan at least once a year, but you should also look to update it if the individual’s condition ever changes, or if any changes are ever made to any aspects of their care plan, such as their medication.
In the event of an emergency, carers should carefully follow the steps outlined in the plan. If at any point they need to call for help, they should notify the emergency services that they are following the EHCP. And if the individual is transferred from one location to another, they should take their EHCP with them.
We Can Support You With Your Emergency Healthcare Plan
If you live in Surrey or by its borders, you can get bespoke support at home with the Crossroads Direct service.
We can help you create a dedicated EHCP, whether it’s for yourself, or for a loved one. We’ll work closely with the person receiving care to ensure that their emergency plan meets all of their unique needs and preferences.
Learn more about Crossroads Direct home help services. And for more information, call 01372 677 831.
