Patients and Carers

Welcome Information Data The Voice of Bereaved People

This page has five sections to help you find what you need. Use the navigation bar above to jump directly to any section.

1

What is NACEL?

NACEL looks at how well hospitals care for people who are dying, and how they support families, friends, and carers.

It focuses on adults (aged 18 and over) who die in NHS hospitals in England, Wales, and Jersey. This helps NACEL understand how well hospitals support adults at the end of life and those close to them.

NACEL does not include:

People under 18
Deaths outside hospital (for example at home, in a hospice, or in a care home)
Sudden or unexpected deaths (such as accidents or trauma)

NACEL does not collect data on every patient who dies in hospital. Instead, it looks at care given to a sample of patients aged 18 and over who died during the audit period. The number of cases submitted varies between hospitals, so the findings may reflect care more accurately in some hospitals than others. You can find more information on this, here.

How NACEL gathers information

Bereavement Survey

An online survey completed by relatives, carers, or others close to the person who died, sharing their experience of care.

Case Note Review

Information taken from the patient's hospital records about the care they received.

Hospital Level Survey

Questions about what services each hospital provides to support patients at the end of life.

Staff Survey

An online survey where hospital staff share their confidence and experience in delivering end-of-life care.

Each year, hospitals receive feedback showing how their care compares with others and where improvements could be made.

View previous NACEL reports Open the Patient and Carer Data Tool

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2

Good practice in end-of-life care

Across England, Wales, and Jersey, many hospitals provide high-quality end-of-life care.

Good care at the end of life should:

Focus on the person's wishes

Care should be personalised and centred on what matters most to the individual and those close to them.

Be compassionate and respectful

Every person deserves to be treated with dignity, kindness and respect during this time.

Involve a team of professionals

Medical, emotional and spiritual needs should all be supported by the right people at the right time.

Manage pain and symptoms

Effective symptom management keeps the person as comfortable as possible as they are dying.

Examples of good practice and improvement work can be found in the NACEL good practice compendium.

View the good practice compendium

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3

Information about dying

The dying process

When death comes — Dr Kathryn Mannix

Dr Kathryn Mannix, a palliative care doctor, explains the dying process in a widely viewed TED talk. Drawing on many years of experience, she helps people understand what usually happens as someone approaches the end of life. She explains that dying is often a gradual and gentle process, and highlights how important open, honest conversations are for patients and families.

TED talk · approximately 15 minutes

Watch the TED talk

Leaflets and resources

Marie Curie

Downloadable leaflets for people with terminal illness, families, and carers, covering symptoms, planning ahead, bereavement, and practical care.

Visit Marie Curie

Macmillan Cancer Support

Guides and booklets about living with cancer, including treatment, finances, emotional wellbeing, and palliative care. Materials are available in different formats and languages.

Visit Macmillan

Hospice UK

Information about hospice care, planning ahead, and supporting someone near the end of life.

Visit Hospice UK

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Glossary

Medical language around death and dying can be confusing. You can find a glossary explaining common medical terms about death and dying via the link below.

GMC Glossary of Terms: End of Life Care Explains common medical terms used in treatment and care towards the end of life. Opens on the GMC website in a new tab.