Fifers urged to complain over use of DNRs in hospital

A senior councillor has urged Fifers to complain if they are unhappy with controversial ‘Do Not Resuscitate’ forms

David Dempsey, leader of the opposition at Fife House, says the documents must come with discussion with relatives.

Cllr Dempsey (Conservative) said a Freedom of Information request to NHS Fife had revealed just one DNR complaint had led to an investigation last year.

Health bosses have insisted throughout the coronavirus pandemic that there has been no change in policy in their use, stressing care was always person-centred.

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Cllr Dempsey said “We’ve looked in depth into how this procedure is supposed to work. Its full title is Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (DNACPR) and, if applied properly, it makes a lot of sense.

“However, a key part is a discussion with the patient and/or the patient’s relatives or representative and we have evidence that that isn’t happening every time. No procedure is 100% perfect but what we need to know is how often it’s failing.

“A Freedom of Information request to NHS Fife shows only one complaint in the last year that has led to an investigation. There have been more reports than that in the press. How many other cases are there? We just don’t know.

“It must be very distressing to find that a DNR decision has been made but not properly explained. It’s understandable that patients and relatives may not want to make an official complaint.

“But that’s the only way to stop it happening to others.”

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