What is the Universal Care Plan?
The Universal Care Plan (UCP) is an NHS record for people in London.
It holds key information on what matters to you and your wishes for your future care. You can find more information on future care planning here.
This information is shared securely with the teams who might look after you - day or night, and in an emergency.
Who is it for and who can create it?
The UCP is for anyone who wants their wishes understood and followed - especially if you have a serious or long-term illness or have had several hospital stays.
You can create it yourself by the NHS app or a doctor or nurse can start it with your agreement.
What's in it?
It can include:
- what matters most to you
- who to contact - professionals and family
- where you'd prefer to be cared for
- how your symptoms such as pain or breathlessness can be best managed
- treatments you would or wouldn't want
- your wishes about resuscitation (CPR) if your heart stops
Who can see it and how can I access it?
It can be seen by the London Ambulance Service, NHS 111, out-of-hours GPs, community nurses and hospital teams.
You can see it through the NHS App by following the steps below:
- Log in to the NHS App or online login service using your NHS login
- Select ‘Profile‘, navigate to ‘Care Plans’ from your profile screen
- Select ‘Manage your Universal Care Plan’
You can update your UCP at any time, whenever your situation or wishes change. There is more information on how to access your UCP here.
Top Tips
Ask your medical team to review your plan after any hospital or hospice stay, or if your health or wishes change. Keeping it current is what makes it useful in a crisis.