The document outlines the terms of reference, governance structure, quality standards, and activities of the End of Life Care (EOLC) Committee at Our Lady's Children's Hospital (OLCHC). The committee, chaired by Carol Hilliard, aims to ensure effective and seamless end of life care for children and families. Key responsibilities include developing guidelines, identifying training needs, and conducting self-assessments against quality standards. The committee reports to the hospital's clinical governance and receives an annual budget to support bereavement activities. Algorithms have also been developed to clarify the roles of different disciplines in end of life care.

1. Carol Hilliard, Assistant Director of Nursing
Chair of OLCHC EOLC Committee

2.  EOLC Committee Terms of Reference
 Governance & Reporting Structure
 Quality Standards – Self Assessment & Operational Plan

3. Purpose of the Committee
To provide a governance framework for the systems and
processes related to end of life care to ensure the delivery of
effective and seamless care to children and their families

4.  Develop systems to ensure EOLC is central to the OLCHC mission
and organised around the needs of children and their families
 Provide guidance and support to all areas of hospital planning
and activity with regard to end of life care
 Develop guidelines, information and resources for patients,
families and staff
 Identify educational and training requirements for OLCHC staff

5. CEO
Corporate
Management Team
Hospital Clinical
Governance
EOLC
Committee
Risk Management
Individual Teams
/ Departments
Patient Support
Budget
Report

6. Algorithms developed to highlight roles of key disciplines:
 Medicine
 Nursing
 Social Worker
 Chaplaincy
 Algorithm also developed for when OLCHC is informed of a
child’s death outside the hospital

7.  €10,000 annually from Corporate Management Team
 EOLC Committee Account - facilitates donor intent
Activities
 Bereavement days for parents, siblings, adolescents
 Hospital Remembrance Ceremony
 Ceramic hand / foot prints of children
 Memorial Books
 Anniversary cards
 Custom made patient belonging bags
 Education for staff

8.  Committee prepares an annual action plan of activities
 In 2014, Quality Standards used to inform the action plan
 Conducted a real-time self assessment against the standards
 Used HFH template
 Identified deficits which require action by
 EOLC Committee
 Other committees / departments in OLCHC, e.g.
Healthcare Records Committee, Corporate Management
Team
 Align actions with HIQA Safer Better Healthcare Standards

10.  Clear reporting structure
 Knowing the boundaries of
the committee’s remit
 Strong multi-disciplinary
commitment
 Corporate support
 Own budget
 Senior manager as Chair
 The Operational Plan!
 End of Life Care
Coordinator
 Staff support
 Education & Training
 New Children’s Hospital

11. Carol Hilliard
Assistant Director of Nursing / Nursing Practice Development Coordinator
Chair of EOLC Committee
01 4282884 carol.hilliard@olchc.ie