Nothing is certain except death and taxes, as the saying goes, but despite this dying can be difficult to discuss. However, I know from experience as a GP that many people would like to choose where they spend their final days, and most would prefer not to be in hospital.

This is backed by a St Helena Hospice survey. It found 47% would like to be cared for in a hospice, 41% at home, and only one in 100 would choose hospital.

To improve peoples’ chances of spending their last hours in their chosen place, North East Essex Clinical Commissioning Group is working with St Helena Hospice, the MacMillan and Marie Curie charities and other healthcare providers, to offer a support service for those coming to the end of their lives.

SinglePoint is a 24/7 telephone advice service (01206 890360) to help people get the care and support they need in the place of their choosing. And to help people plan a dignified death, a register called My Care Choices allows people to record their preferences. Patients can discuss this with their GP, who will add their details to the register, with consent. This can be accessed by the ambulance service, district nurses, hospice and hospital, so we are best placed to meet the patient’s wishes.

In March, the SinglePoint team answered 2,533 calls and arranged 452 referrals to health services on behalf of patients at the end of their lives. More than 600 people have their care plans shared with their carers and health professionals through My Care Choices. This service will help people be more comfortable and less distressed in their last hours.

Another major improvement to health and care services that North East Essex CCG has worked on will launch this summer. A new rapid assessment service for Tendring with additional, highly qualified staff will allow more people to receive care closer to home, instead of Colchester hospital.

It will be led by advanced nurse practitioners, based at Clacton and Harwich hospitals, who can carry out clinical assessment, diagnosis and prescribe treatment. These highly trained nurses will, when it is medically appropriate, assess patients at home or at Clacton hospital rather than patients having to go into Colchester Hospital first.

The CCG has been working on this project with members of the public, district nurses, community matrons, GPs, the hospital, Essex County Council and ambulance service for several months.

Patients may be referred to the assessment service by GPs or the ambulance service and be given any necessary tests, or a bed, at Clacton or Harwich hospitals.

There will also be beds available, jointly funded by Essex County Council, to provide rehabilitation for patients who need help to recover their strength and confidence after a hospital stay.

Patients will benefit from this new arrangement in many ways.

Hospital stays will be shorter with therapies available daily if required, instead of weekly as they are now, ambulance journeys will be shorter, freeing up emergency vehicles for Tendring patients more quickly and GPs will have more support and the back-up of the assessment service.

These important changes are the next steps in improving our health services and making them more responsive to the needs of local people.

Continue to tell us your views via www.neessexccg.nhs.uk