• THREE years ago the CNJ ran a report of a mother who was upset and pointed out that her mother had died in a Camden care home where there was no defibrillator.

Camden Council responded very promptly by saying that defibs would be installed in all their homes soon. However we raised concerns about various issues around the use of defibs and the council arranged a very constructive consultation.

There was a plan to install defibs (completed in 2020) and ensure all Camden’s residents in care homes – and their families – had opportunities to create Advance Decisions to refuse treatment, since using a defib is a treatment that should have consent. The consent should be given when the resident first enters a care home.

A suggestion was made for an Advanced Care Plan (ACP) facilitator to support the creation of an Advance Decision to refuse treatment be created. Funding for this role has been secured for a year’s pilot. We congratulate Camden on this.

We now encourage all CNJ readers to not only have wills and powers of attorney in place but also to add ACPs. These can be facilitated by referring to various organisations like Compassion in Dying and Age (UK) Camden.

Another detailed site is www.mylivingwill.org.uk

PROFESSOR ISKY GORDON & DR ROBERT MacGIBBON, NW5