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Home News Regulation CQC to review blanket DNR orders during pandemic

CQC to review blanket DNR orders during pandemic

Assisted dying

Mimi Launder
14 October 2020


The CQC has announced an investigation into the use of blanket ‘do-not-resuscitate’ (DNR) orders in primary care as well as care homes and hospitals. 

This follows concerns that elderly and vulnerable people were subject to DNR decisions without their consent or informed choice earlier on in the Covid-19 pandemic, the regulator said.

The review will look to identify and share best practice around DNR and identify where decisions may not have been patient-centred.  

Interim findings are expected to be reported later this year with a final report early next year.

DNR orders can allow individuals to make a shared decision about what intervention they would like if they suffer cardiac or respiratory arrest, including refusing resuscitation. 

Announcing the review, CQC chief inspector of primary care Dr Rosie Benneyworth said it is ‘unacceptable’ for DNR decisions to be applied to a group of people and that they ‘must continue to be made on an individual basis’.  

She continued: ‘It is vital that we take this opportunity to learn from what has happened – challenging poor care and sharing the ways that providers have put people’s needs at the heart of their care so that others can learn from them.’ 

Both staff and patients’ families had raised concerns about care to the CQC, she added. 

In April, NHS England asked GPs and other healthcare professionals to avoid any ‘blanket’ policies on clinical decisions during the pandemic, especially with regards to DNR forms.

The guidance came as hundreds of GP practices in North West London were advised to tell the relatives of care home patients who lack capacity that ‘difficult decisions’ will need to be made around admitting these patients to hospital.

Also in April, the CQC published a joint statement with the BMA and RCGP which declared it unacceptable for advanced care plans to be applied to groups of people. 

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READERS' COMMENTS [69]

Illegal DNRs, ventilators and involuntary euthanasia - United Push Back 22 June, 2021 6:20 pm

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Illegal DNRs, ventilators and involuntary euthanasia - Open Mind News 22 June, 2021 10:47 pm

[…] the ill or disabled who fell victim to this, either. In June last year, it was revealed that “blanket” DNRs had been applied to nursing homes by GPs all around the […]

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Illegal DNRs, ventilators and involuntary euthanasia - cnbsnews 23 June, 2021 10:24 am

[…] just the ill or disabled who fell victim to this, either. In June last year, it was revealed that “blanket” DNRs had been applied to nursing homes by GPs all around the […]

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Illegal DNRs, ventilators & involuntary euthanasia | The Most Revolutionary Act 23 June, 2021 9:18 pm

[…] just the ill or disabled who fell victim to this, either. In June last year, it was revealed that “blanket” DNRs had been applied to nursing homes by GPs all around the […]

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Illegale DNRs, Beatmungsgeräte und unfreiwillige Euthanasie – Aktuelle Nachrichten 24 June, 2021 8:10 am

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30 facts you NEED to know: Your Covid Cribsheet - United Push Back 22 September, 2021 9:12 pm

[…] out letters to non-terminal patients recommending they sign DNR orders, whilst other doctors signed “blanket DNRs” for entire nursing […]

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The Scotfree | 30 facts you NEED to know: Your Covid Cribsheet 22 September, 2021 10:12 pm

[…] out letters to non-terminal patients recommending they sign DNR orders, whilst other doctors signed “blanket DNRs” for entire nursing […]

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‘Covid has caused no excess deaths’… Check the chart… – BREAKING News, Politics, and Opinion 23 September, 2021 5:05 am

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30 facts you NEED to know: Your Covid Cribsheet - Open Mind News 23 September, 2021 2:53 pm

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USSANews.com | The Tea Party's Front Page. 23 September, 2021 6:11 pm

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FACTS DELIBERATELY IGNORED BY THE NIGHTLY NEWS – RIGHT TO SPEAK 24 September, 2021 10:49 am

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Facts About Covid | peckford42 24 September, 2021 8:12 pm

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News and Posts from the Web Friday, 09.24.21 – FOR GOD AND COUNTRY 24 September, 2021 9:12 pm

[…] to non-terminal patients recommending they sign DNR orders, whilst other doctors signed “blanket DNRs” for entire nursing […]

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30 facts you NEED to know: Your Covid Cribsheet – Concerned American Dad 25 September, 2021 1:31 am

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30 facts you need to know about the China Flu - INDIAN LIBERTY REPORT 25 September, 2021 6:35 am

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30 Facts You Need To Know: A COVID Cribsheet 26 September, 2021 12:02 pm

[…] letters to non-terminal patients recommending they sign DNR orders, whilst other doctors signed “blanket DNRs” for entire nursing […]

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30 Facts You Need To Know: A COVID Cribsheet - Open Mind News 26 September, 2021 12:03 pm

[…] letters to non-terminal patients recommending they sign DNR orders, whilst other doctors signed “blanket DNRs” for entire nursing […]

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30 Facts You Need To Know: A COVID Cribsheet – Biz Patriot 26 September, 2021 12:04 pm

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30 Facts You Need To Know: A COVID Cribsheet - Investing Book Deals 26 September, 2021 12:04 pm

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30 Facts You Need To Know: A COVID Cribsheet – Sovereign Vision 26 September, 2021 12:05 pm

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30 Facts You Need To Know: A COVID Cribsheet | ZeroHedge 26 September, 2021 12:06 pm

[…] letters to non-terminal patients recommending they sign DNR orders, whilst other doctors signed “blanket DNRs” for entire nursing […]

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30 Facts You Need To Know: A COVID Cribsheet – iftttwall 26 September, 2021 12:07 pm

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30 Facts You Need To Know: A COVID Cribsheet - Nemos News Network 26 September, 2021 12:07 pm

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30 Facts You Need To Know: A COVID Cribsheet – Not Mainstream News 26 September, 2021 12:08 pm

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30 Facts You Need To Know: A COVID Cribsheet - Investing Matters 26 September, 2021 12:09 pm

[…] letters to non-terminal patients recommending they sign DNR orders, whilst other doctors signed “blanket DNRs” for entire nursing […]

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30 Facts You Need To Know: A COVID Cribsheet - Survivalnomics 26 September, 2021 12:11 pm

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30 Facts You Need To Know: A COVID Cribsheet – Takin' It Back 26 September, 2021 12:11 pm

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30 Facts You Need To Know: A COVID Cribsheet - altnews.org 26 September, 2021 12:12 pm

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30 Facts You Need To Know: A COVID Cribsheet | New Covenant Network News 26 September, 2021 12:33 pm

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30 Facts You Need To Know: A COVID Cribsheet – MDC News Today 26 September, 2021 12:41 pm

[…] letters to non-terminal patients recommending they sign DNR orders, whilst other doctors signed “blanket DNRs” for entire nursing […]

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30 Facts You Need To Know: A COVID Cribsheet – Understanding Deep Politics 26 September, 2021 1:00 pm

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30 Facts You Need To Know: A COVID Cribsheet - Red State Talk Radio 26 September, 2021 1:00 pm

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30 Facts You Need to Know - Covid Cribsheet - The New Hampshire Independent 26 September, 2021 1:10 pm

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30 Facts You Need To Know: A COVID Cribsheet – Shadow Truth 26 September, 2021 2:23 pm

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Altstream Alternative News Source 30 Facts You Need To Know: A COVID CribsheetZeroHedge News 26 September, 2021 4:01 pm

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30 Facts You Need To Know: A COVID Cribsheet — THE MILLENNIAL POST 26 September, 2021 4:02 pm

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30 Facts You NEED To Know: Your Covid Cribsheet | Truth In Plain Sight.com 26 September, 2021 7:39 pm

[…] to non-terminal patients recommending they sign DNR orders, whilst other doctors signed “blanket DNRs” for entire nursing […]

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30 Facts You Need to Know: Your COVID Cribsheet/ By Kit Knightly - Mark Taliano 26 September, 2021 10:14 pm

[…] to non-terminal patients recommending they sign DNR orders, whilst other doctors signed “blanket DNRs” for entire nursing […]

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30 Facts You Need To Know: A COVID Cribsheet | We Are Change TV.US 26 September, 2021 11:37 pm

[…] letters to non-terminal patients recommending they sign DNR orders, whilst other doctors signed “blanket DNRs” for entire nursing […]

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your covid cribsheet of facts | Socrates Wellness Institute 26 September, 2021 11:39 pm

[…] to non-terminal patients recommending they sign DNR orders, whilst other doctors signed “blanket DNRs” for entire nursing […]

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30 facts you NEED to know: Your Covid Cribsheet | Atlas Monitor 27 September, 2021 1:51 am

[…] to non-terminal patients recommending they sign DNR orders, whilst other doctors signed “blanket DNRs” for entire nursing […]

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A Covid Cribsheet – 30 Facts You Need to Know – Know The Truth 27 September, 2021 5:40 pm

[…] out letters to non-terminal patients recommending they sign DNR orders, whilst other doctors signed “blanket DNRs” for entire nursing […]

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30 facts you NEED to know: Your Covid Cribsheet - The Falling Darkness 27 September, 2021 7:02 pm

[…] letters to non-terminal patients recommending they sign DNR orders, whilst other doctors signed “blanket DNRs” for entire nursing […]

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30 facts you NEED to know: Your Covid Cribsheet – Patrick Herbert 27 September, 2021 8:15 pm

[…] out letters to non-terminal patients recommending they sign DNR orders, whilst other doctors signed “blanket DNRs” for entire nursing […]

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Covaids Facts – Jushi's Blog 28 September, 2021 6:55 am

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30 datos que NECESITAS saber acerca de la SUPUESTA «pandemia» del Covid19 – VOZ IBÉRICA (nueva epoca) 28 September, 2021 9:35 am

[…] no terminales recomendar que firman las órdenes de NR, mientras que otros médicos firmaron “DNR manta” para hogares de ancianos […]

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30 de fapte pe care trebuie să le cunoașteți: foaia dvs. memorie Covid - HostBiz.ro 28 September, 2021 11:05 am

[…] non-terminale recomanda ei semneze ordinele de DNR, în timp ce alți medici au semnat „DNRs pătură“ pentru casele de ingrijire medicala […]

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30 de fapte pe care trebuie să le cunoașteți: foaia dvs. de note Covid - HostBiz.ro 28 September, 2021 11:06 am

[…] non-terminale recomanda ei semneze ordinele de DNR, în timp ce alți medici au semnat „DNRs pătură“ pentru casele de ingrijire medicala […]

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Covid et vaccination : 30 points à connaître par cœur pour argumenter sans faille - Strategika 28 September, 2021 3:32 pm

[…] terminal recommandant de signer des ordres DNR, tandis que d’autres médecins ont signé des « DNR de couverture » pour d’entières maisons de […]

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Your Covid Cribsheet - What Do You Know About Politics? 28 September, 2021 7:30 pm

[…] out letters to non-terminal patients recommending they sign DNR orders, whilst other doctors signed “blanket DNRs” for entire nursing […]

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30 facts you NEED to know: Your Covid Cribsheet – Rights and Freedoms 28 September, 2021 8:26 pm

[…] to non-terminal patients recommending they sign DNR orders, whilst other doctors signed “blanket DNRs” for entire nursing […]

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30 facts you NEED to know: Your Covid Cribsheet – the Canadian patriot 29 September, 2021 12:27 am

[…] to non-terminal patients recommending they sign DNR orders, whilst other doctors signed “blanket DNRs” for entire nursing […]

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30 FACTS YOU NEED TO KNOW: YOUR COVID CRIBSHEET 29 September, 2021 3:15 am

[…] to non-terminal patients recommending they sign DNR orders, whilst other doctors signed “blanket DNRs” for entire nursing […]

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30 fakta du trenger å vite: Covid-huskelapp – En samling av alle de argumentene du trenger. | steigan.no 29 September, 2021 6:41 am

[…] ikke-terminale pasienter som anbefalte at de signerte DNR-ordre, mens andre leger signerte «blanko-DNR«-er for hele […]

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30 fakta du trenger å vite: Covid-huskelapp – En samling av alle de argumentene du trenger. – Fronten.no 29 September, 2021 6:44 am

[…] til ikke-terminale pasienter som anbefalte at de signerte DNR-ordre, mens andre leger signerte «blanko-DNR«-er for hele […]

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Covid et vaccination : 30 points à connaître par cœur pour argumenter sans faille – par l’équipe du journal rebelle britannique off-guardian.com. Masques, tests, vaccins : comment les envoyer paître, tous ces serfs et leurs maîtres. Rema 29 September, 2021 8:29 am

[…] de signer des ordres DNR, tandis que d’autres médecins ont signé des « DNR de couverture » pour d’entières maisons de […]

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Covid: i 30 aspetti assolutamente da conoscere - The Unconditional Blog 29 September, 2021 11:35 am

[…] non terminali, raccomandando loro di prefirmare ordini DNR, mentre altri medici hanno firmato “DNR a tappeto” per intere case di […]

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30 PLANDEMIE feiten die je moet weten | Pensioenactivist 29 September, 2021 11:57 am

[…] niet-terminale patiënten waarin ze aanraden DNR-orders te ondertekenen, terwijl andere artsen “algemene DNR’s” ondertekenden voor hele […]

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Kit Knightly, 30 facts you NEED to know: Your Covid Cribsheet - James Fetzer 30 September, 2021 3:35 am

[…] letters to non-terminal patients recommending they sign DNR orders, whilst other doctors signed “blanket DNRs” for entire nursing […]

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30 fakta om COVID-19. Stämmer detta med medias och Folkhälsomyndighetens bild? - Global Politics 30 September, 2021 6:35 am

[…] til ikke-terminale pasienter som anbefalte at de signerte DNR-ordre, mens andre leger signerte «blanko-DNR«-er for hele […]

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30 facts you NEED to know: Your Covid Cribsheet – Chiri Caspi 30 September, 2021 7:40 am

[…] out letters to non-terminal patients recommending they sign DNR orders, whilst other doctors signed “blanket DNRs” for entire nursing […]

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Globeinfolive 30 September, 2021 7:54 am

[…] letters to non-terminal patients recommending they sign DNR orders, whilst other doctors signed “blanket DNRs” for entire nursing […]

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COVID: QUESTA E' LA VERITA' di comedonchisciotte.org 30 September, 2021 8:47 am

[…] terminali, raccomandando loro di prefirmare ordini DNR, mentre altri medici hanno firmato “DNR a tappeto” per intere case di riposo. Uno studio dell’Università di Sheffield ha […]

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The Scotfree | BEST OF THE WEB: 30 facts you NEED to know: Your Covid Cribsheet 30 September, 2021 11:14 am

[…] out letters to non-terminal patients recommending they sign DNR orders, whilst other doctors signed “blanket DNRs” for entire nursing […]

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