Survivorship Quality Standards

A New Era of Care: The RCUK Quality Standards

Sudden Cardiac Arrest UK proudly highlights the newly released Quality Standards for Care and Rehabilitation of Cardiac Arrest Survivors and Key Supporters from the Resuscitation Council UK (RCUK). These guidelines mark a significant milestone in cardiac arrest care in the UK and represent a collaborative effort between medical professionals and those with lived experience.

Why These Standards Matter

• Comprehensive Care: The new standards cover the entire journey of cardiac arrest survivorship, from pre-discharge care in the hospital to long-term follow-up. This holistic approach recognizes survivors’ diverse and complex needs, including physical, cognitive, and emotional well-being, and also includes support for key supporters.
• Addressing the Postcode Lottery: For too long, the level of care and support available to cardiac arrest survivors has varied wildly depending on location. These new standards aim to ensure minimum care and support for all survivors and their families across the UK, no matter where they live.
• Our Voice, Our Impact: SCA UK has been instrumental in developing these guidelines. Three of our trustees and members of our peer support groups contributed their expertise.
• Lived Experience at the Forefront: The standards were developed by a group that included cardiac arrest survivors, their families, and healthcare professionals. This collaborative approach means that the guidelines are genuinely patient-centred and address the real-world needs of both survivors and their key supporters.

Key Components of the Quality Standards

The standards provide clear recommendations for the care of cardiac arrest survivors, covering areas such as:

• Comprehensive Pre-Discharge Assessment: All survivors should receive a thorough evaluation of their physical, cognitive, and emotional needs before leaving the hospital. This includes screening for cognitive problems using tools like the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA).
• Tailored Rehabilitation Plans: All survivors should be provided with individualised recovery plans, which may include referrals to cardiac rehab, occupational therapy, psychological support, or other specialised services.
• 3-Month Follow-Up: All survivors and their key supporters should be offered a follow-up appointment within three months of discharge to assess progress and address emerging issues.
• Support for Key Supporters: The standards recognise that cardiac arrest affects not just the survivor but also those close to them. These standards include provisions for assessing and supporting the emotional well-being of key supporters.
• Long-Term Access to Support: Survivors and their key supporters should be able to re-access services if new issues arise later, acknowledging that survivorship is not a linear process.

The Importance of These Standards

These standards provide a framework for improving outcomes for cardiac arrest survivors by ensuring:

• Minimum Standards of Care: Consistent assessment of physical, cognitive, and mental health needs.
• Improved Service Quality: More compelling and targeted care provision.
• Better Outcomes: Improvements to physical, cognitive, and mental health and overall quality of life.

Turning Guidelines into Reality

It is important to remember that these are guidelines, not guarantees. Implementation will require ongoing effort, enthusiasm, and investment. We must work together to make these standards a reality.

How You Can Help

• Healthcare Professionals: Embrace and implement these standards in your practice. Use them as a guide to provide better care.
• Survivors and Co-survivors: Familiarise yourself with the standards and use them to advocate for yourself or your loved one.
• All: Share this information with your networks to raise awareness. Every share brings us closer to a world where all cardiac arrest survivors and their families get the support they deserve.

A Call to Action

We at SCA UK believe these standards represent a new beginning in our collective survivorship journey. Your voice matters, and it’s only by working together that we can continue to improve care for cardiac arrest survivors and co-survivors across the UK. We urge you to review the complete Quality Standards document and support its implementation.

Read the Full Quality Standards

You can access the Quality Standards on the RCUK website or read and download below:

Get Involved

Your feedback is invaluable, whether you’re a survivor, a co-survivor, a healthcare professional, or interested in this field. Contact us at SCA UK to share your thoughts on these new standards.