Easy Read Guide to Emergency Care Planning

A ReSPECT Plus Plan helps healthcare professionals understand your wishes if you become unwell and cannot tell them what treatment you would like in an emergency.

The plan is designed to support conversations between you and your healthcare team so that future care reflects what is important to you.

What Does ReSPECT Mean?

ReSPECT stands for:

Recommended Summary Plan for Emergency Care and Treatment

It is a plan that explains what care and treatment you would want if an emergency happens and you are unable to make decisions for yourself.

What Is ReSPECT Plus?

ReSPECT Plus is an electronic version of a ReSPECT Plan.

It contains the same important information as a ReSPECT form but can also include additional details about:

• Medication
• Equipment you may need
• Support arrangements
• Personal care preferences

This helps healthcare professionals provide coordinated care that matches your wishes.

How Is the Plan Created?

The plan is developed through discussions between you and healthcare professionals.

Together you can talk about:

• What matters most to you
• Your future care preferences
• Treatments you would want
• Treatments you may not want
• What should happen during an emergency

The information is then recorded so it can guide healthcare professionals if decisions need to be made quickly.

Why Is a ReSPECT Plus Plan Helpful?

A ReSPECT Plus Plan helps doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals understand your wishes when you may not be able to communicate them yourself.

Benefits include:

• Supporting personalised care
• Helping healthcare teams make informed decisions
• Reducing uncertainty during emergencies
• Ensuring your preferences are considered

Understanding Treatment Choices

Many treatments can help people recover when they become unwell.

However, some treatments may not be successful or may cause discomfort without providing significant benefit.

Discussing your preferences in advance can help ensure that future decisions reflect your values and priorities.

Keeping Your Wishes Known

A copy of your ReSPECT Plus Plan will be stored in your healthcare records, and you may also receive a copy to keep.

There are other ways to make sure your wishes are known, including appointing a Lasting Power of Attorney who can make decisions on your behalf if you become unable to do so.

Supporting Person-Centred Care

ReSPECT Plus helps ensure that healthcare professionals understand what is important to you and can provide care that is tailored to your individual needs, preferences and circumstances during an emergency.