RAPID IMPACT ASSESSMENT
Screening Form
Name of policy, strategy, plan or project
Directorate and Service Area
Name, job title and contact details of
person completing the assessment
Date:
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Policy
Patient Safety and Risk
Deborah Taylor
Senior Resuscitation Officer
09.01.2012
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This section summarises:
o the impacts identified for action
o mitigating action
o the likely severity of the impact as a result of that action (“result”).
Impact
Foetuses may suffer, if
pregnant patients who
suffer cardiac arrest are
not given obstetric care.
Patients without mental
capacity to consider do not
resuscitate orders may not
have their wishes
adequately reflected,
without advocacy.
The balance may not
always correctly be struck
between recognising
parental responsibilities,
children's rights and
patient's best interests, in
consideration of do not
resuscitate orders for
children.
There is a perception
among patient groups that
elderly people are
discriminated against in
implementing the do not
resuscitate process.
Action
The obstetric registrar is
contacted quickly in the
event of a pregnant
woman suffering a cardiac
arrest.
The policy explains the
use of a "proxy".
Result
Impact eliminated
The policy states that the
wishes taken by
competent children should
be respected, that parents
can consent to treatment
for children up to the age
of 16 and that advice
should be sought where
treatment deemed
appropriate is refused by
the patient or parents.
The policy acknowledges
this issue and explicitly
states that old age alone
should not be a criterion in
deciding on a do not
resuscitate order.
Impact eliminated.
Impact eliminated.
Impact eliminated.
1.
What is the main purpose of this policy / plan / service?
The policy has been updated to include the members of the Medical emergency
Team, Membership of the Resuscitation Group and Preparation for the new
Treatment Escalation Plan.
2.
Who does it affect?
Carers
√
Staff
Delete as appropriate.
3.
√
Patients √
Other (Visitors) √
What impact is it likely to have on different sections of the community /
workforce, considering the “protected characteristics” below?
Positive
impact -- it
could benefit
Age
√
Disability
√
Sex
including
Transgender and
Pregnancy / Maternity
Negative
impact -- it
treats them
less
favourably or
could do
Negative impact -they could find it
harder than others to
benefit from it or they
could be
disadvantaged by it
Non-impact –
missed
opportunities
to promote
equality
Neutral -unlikely to
have a
specific effect
√
Race
√
Religion / belief
√
Sexual orientation
including
Marriage / Civil
Partnership
In identifying the impact of your policy across these characteristics, please consider
the following issues:
- Fairness
Does it treat everyone justly?
- Respect
Does it respect everyone as a person?
- Equality
Does it give everyone an equal chance to get whatever it is offering?
- Dignity
Does it treat everyone with dignity?
- Autonomy
Does it recognise everyone’s freedom to make decisions for themselves?
√
4.
If you have identified any positive impacts (see above), what will you do to
make the most of them?
“Protected characteristic”
affected:
Issue
Who did you ask to
understand the issues or
whose work did you look
at?
Resuscitation
Council(UK)(2010)
Resuscitation Group,
Mental Capacity Act
BMA/Law Society
“Assessment of Mental
Capacity” p.66
Action
The issue is directly
addressed in the policy.
“Protected characteristic”
affected:
Issue
Who did you ask to
understand the issues or
whose work did you look
at?
Disability
Patients without mental capacity to consider do not
resuscitate orders may not have their wishes
adequately reflected, without advocacy.
What did you find out
What did you learn or
about?
confirm?
Assessment
Advocacy
As stated in the policy
Action as a result of above
By whom?
Policy writer.
Age (Young people)
The balance may not always correctly be struck
between recognising parental responsibilities, children's
rights and patient's best interests, in consideration of do
not resuscitate orders for children.
What did you find out
What did you learn or
about?
confirm?
Resuscitation Group,
Mental Capacity Act
Resuscitation
Council(UK)(2010)
Action
The policy states that the
wishes taken by
competent children should
be respected, that parents
can consent to treatment
for children up to the age
of 16 and that advice
should be sought where
treatment deemed
appropriate is refused by
the patient or parents.
When?
During drafting.
As stated in the policy
Action as a result of above
By whom?
Policy writer.
When?
During drafting.
“Protected characteristic”
affected:
Issue
Who did you ask to
understand the issues or
whose work did you look
at?
Resuscitation Group,
Related Trust Policies,
As per references within
policy
Action
The policy acknowledges
this issue and explicitly
states that old age alone
should not be a criterion in
deciding on a do not
resuscitate order.
“Protected characteristic”
affected:
Issue
Who did you ask to
understand the issues or
whose work did you look
at?
Resuscitation Group,
Related Trust Policies,
As per references within
policy
Action
The policy states that an
obstetric registrar will be
contacted quickly, when a
pregnant woman has an
arrest.
Age (elderly people)
There is a perception among patient groups that elderly
people are discriminated against in implementing the do
not resuscitate process.
What did you find out
What did you learn or
about?
confirm?
Equality and Diversity
As stated in policy
Action as a result of above
By whom?
Policy writer.
When?
During drafting.
Gender
Foetuses may suffer, if pregnant patients who suffer
cardiac arrest are not given obstetric care.
What did you find out
What did you learn or
about?
confirm?
Resuscitation in
Pregnancy
Action as a result of above
By whom?
Policy writer.
Foetuses may suffer, if
pregnant patients who
suffer cardiac arrest are
not given obstetric care.
When?
During drafting.
5. If you have identified any missed opportunities (“non-impacts”), what
will you do to take up any opportunities to promote equality?
“Protected characteristic”
affected:
Issue
Who did you ask to
What did you find out
What did you learn or
understand the issues or
about?
confirm?
whose work did you look
at?
Action
Action as a result of above
By whom?
When?
6. If you have a identified a neutral impact, show who you have consulted
or asked to confirm that this is the case, in the table below:
Who did you ask or consult to confirm your neutral impacts?
(Please list groups or individuals below. These may be internal or external and
should include the groups approving the policy.)
Tony Williams, Equality and Diversity Manager
Resuscitation Group
Clinical Effectiveness Committee
Governance Committee
If you need help with any aspect of this assessment, please contact:
Tony Williams
Equality and Diversity Manager
Ext: 6942
tony.williams@rdeft.nhs.uk
Please note:
This impact assessment needs to be sent, with the policy, to the Equality & Diversity
Manager at the following stages:
- as part of consultation
- prior to final ratification of the policy
- when final ratification has been given.