AN EVENT was held to launch a charter which sets out the level of care people in St Helens should expect at the end of their life.

The End-of-Life Care Citizen's Charter for St Helens and Knowsley was unveiled at Willowbrook's Living Well centre in Borough Road on Friday (May 13), with the mayors of St Helens, Whiston and Knowsley attending, alongside MPs Marie Rimmer and George Howarth and a range of health professionals.

Community consultant in Palliative Medicine, Dr Paula Powell, gave a presentation and ran a Q&A session about the charter.

Dr Powell said: "The charter is designed to help professionals achieve best practice. We are hoping that everybody involved will read it and think: 'Yes, this is how we can help people in the best way possible'."

She added: "It articulates what people and carers should expect and ask for. It's about what somebody facing the end of their life needs to live as well as they possibly can during that time.

"For example, people can make a plan for that time - and they can get support to do that."

A spokesperson for Willowbrook Hospice says the charter - which has been developed for people with an advanced, progressive, incurable illness - represents the commitment of health organisations in delivering the best possible end-of-life care.

The document consists of 12 statements which outline what patients should expect, with four key principles at its heart:

• keeping the patient and family informed and supported;

• sharing information with other organisations;

• promoting choice and control; and

• ensuring the care is personal to the person.

MP for St Helens South & Whiston, Marie Rimmer, said: "It is essential that people are treated with respect at the end of their lives. This will help people discuss options with loved ones."

Organisations involved in developing the charter include St Helens and Knowsley CCG, Willowbrook Hospice, St Helens and Knowsley councils, St Helens and Whiston Hospitals and Healthwatch.

For more information on the charter, visit willowbrook.org.uk.