What is ReSPECT?

ReSPECT stands for Recommended Summary Plan for Emergency Care and Treatment. 

The ReSPECT process creates a personalised recommendation for your clinical care in emergency situations where you are not able to make decisions or express your wishes. 

Who is ReSPECT for & how does the plan work?

This plan can be for anyone, but will have increasing relevance for people who have complex health needs, people who are likely to be nearing the end of their lives, and people who are at risk of sudden deterioration or cardiac arrest.

The plan is created through conversations between you and your health professionals. The plan stays with you and should be available immediately to health professionals called to help you in an emergency, whether you are at home or being cared for elsewhere. 

Professionals such as ambulance crews, out of hours doctors, care home or hospital staff will be better able to make quick decisions about how best to help you if they can see your ReSPECT plan in an emergency. 

Who makes the recommendations?

The ReSPECT process is designed to support conversations between you and your health professionals (and other people important to you) in order to understand your priorities of care and use those to develop an agreed plan that records what types of care or treatment. 

It is important to understand that the ReSPECT plan cannot be used to demand treatments that are not likley to benefit you. 

In an emergency, where you are not able to say what is important to you, clinical decision will be made by health professionals trying to act in your best interests and for your benefit.