Vision: The North East will have the highest quality services to support individuals (along with their families and carers) in their choices as they approach death.

By a good death we mean one which is free of pain, with family and friends nearby, with dignity and in the place of one’s choosing.

• Together with existing networks, hospice services, providers of terminal care, NHS commissioners, lay carers and patients, we will establish a Regional Advisory Group for Achieving a Good Death. This group will consider the needs of individuals of all ages, and will oversee implementation of the national strategy for end of life care.

• We will establish an agreement between health and social care providers specifying the levelof public sector funding that should be regarded as appropriate in support of terminal care services.

• We will establish standards and expectations of training and education for those who deal with end of life and bereavement issues.

• We will establish a charter for end of life care, with a statement of the rights and entitlements that should be honoured both for the individual preparing for death, and for their carers and families. This should relate not only to medical and nursing care, but to the behaviours of all agencies and sectors who deal with these issues.

• The charter will define entitlement to bereavement support/counselling available to all who need it especially following anniversary of loss and other significant dates, forming a key component in safeguarding mental health for this very vulnerable group.

• Potential areas of action for RAG consideration: Implementing Darzi NHS Review of End of Life Care – Clarifying social and health contributions – New models for professional teams – Guiding the implementation of the Craft/Killen Report on Palliative Care Services for Children and Young People in England