ReSPECT - Summary Plan for Emergency Care and Treatment
In an emergency, healthcare professionals may have to make rapid decisions about your treatment, and you may not be well enough to discuss what is important to you.
ReSPECT (Recommended Summary Plan for Emergency Care and Treatment) empowers you to guide your medical team on what treatments you would or would not want to be considered for.
Many treatments that can be life-sustaining for some people carry a risk of causing harm, discomfort or loss of dignity. Many people choose not to accept that risk if the likelihood of benefit from treatment is small.
ReSPECT records your preferences and agreed realistic recommendations for emergency situations, whatever stage of life you are at.
About ReSPECT
ReSPECT is a process whereby a plan is created for your care in emergency situations when you may not be able to make decisions or express your wishes.
The ReSPECT process can be for anyone but will have increasing significance for if you have complex health needs or if you are acutely unwell.
The aim of the ReSPECT process is to reach a shared understanding of your current health and how this may change in the future; establishing your wishes and preferences for medical treatments in the event of a future emergency.
How it works
The plan is created from discussions between you and healthcare professionals involved in your care. Your medical team will outline realistic medical treatments, and these will be considered alongside your preferences.
This plan can be reviewed at any time if your wishes change or if there is a change in your health.
Sharing the plan
The plan stays with you and should be available 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 staff and 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.
Making changes
The plan should be reviewed every time you are admitted to hospital and again if there are any changes to your health while you are in hospital.
This can also be discussed with your GP.
Further information
For patients
Resuscitation Council UK
ReSPECT for patients and carers | Resuscitation Council UK
Patient leaflets
ReSPECT resources | Resuscitation Council UK
For healthcare professionals
Video - Joe's ReSPECT Journey
Further guidance
The ReSPECT form is messaged out to GPs on discharge from the OUH via DocMan.
The ReSPECT form is messaged out to SCAS on discharge via identified email addresses.
The ReSPECT form is messaged out to out of hours via identified email addresses.
At present, the OUH ReSPECT form is not editable on the pdf file by community clinicians.
A ReSPECT form needs to be reviewed when a patient moves between healthcare organisations.
Resuscitation Council UK
ReSPECT for healthcare professionals | Resuscitation Council UK
Last reviewed:21 February 2025