Planning ahead: the importance of Advance Care Planning

June 30, 2026

1 July is Advance Care Planning Day, a time to encourage conversations about our future care, our wishes and what matters most to us.

At Harlington Hospice, we see every day how important it is that people are listened to and supported to make choices about their care. Advance Care Planning (ACP) helps people think about, discuss and record their wishes before a time when they may find it harder to communicate them.

It is not about focusing on dying. It is about making sure the things that matter most to someone are understood and respected.

What is Advance Care Planning?

Advance Care Planning is a way of thinking ahead about your future health and care. It can include conversations about your values, preferences, what is important to you, where you would like to be cared for, and who you would want involved in decisions if you were unable to speak for yourself.

For some people, this might mean sharing preferences with family members. For others, it may involve recording wishes in an Advance Care Plan and discussing these with healthcare professionals involved in their care.

There is no single right time to have these conversations. Starting early often means there is more opportunity to reflect, ask questions and update plans as circumstances change.

Why conversations matter

Many of us plan ahead for important events in life, from holidays to finances, but conversations about future care can feel much harder to start.

However, having these discussions earlier can provide reassurance for both individuals and those close to them. It gives people the opportunity to share what matters most, helping families and professionals understand their wishes if difficult decisions need to be made in the future.

At Harlington Hospice, we encourage people to think about simple questions such as:

What is important to me?
What would I want my care to focus on?
Where would I prefer to be cared for?
Who would I trust to speak on my behalf if I could not?

Starting the conversation

Dr Ajmal Singh, Specialty Doctor at Harlington Hospice and a GP, said:

“Advance Care Planning is about helping people stay in control of their care. Having these conversations early allows us to understand what matters most to someone, not just from a medical perspective, but as a person. It can bring reassurance, reduce uncertainty and help families feel confident that they are honouring their loved one’s wishes.”

Recording what matters to you

Having a conversation is often the first step, but recording your wishes can help ensure they are available to the people who may need them in the future.

At Harlington Hospice, we regularly use My Wishes, a personalised Advance Care Planning document that allows people to record what matters most to them. This can include their values, priorities, preferences for future care, and practical information that they would like family members and healthcare professionals to know. Find out more about My Wishes here.

We also support the use of Universal Care Plan (UCP), a digital platform used across local health and care services. UCP enables important information about a person’s wishes, preferences and care needs to be shared securely with healthcare professionals involved in their care, helping to ensure that decisions are informed by what matters most to the individual. UCP can be accessed and completed through your NHS app, with a video walkthrough here.

Recording wishes does not mean decisions are fixed forever. Plans can be reviewed and updated as circumstances change, ensuring they continue to reflect a person’s needs and priorities.

A gift to yourself and others

Advance Care Planning is a personal process, and people’s wishes will be different. Some may want to think about treatments they would or would not want, while others may focus on practical details, personal values or the people they would like involved in decisions.

The important first step is simply starting the conversation.

Ask your healthcare professional whether your wishes can be discussed and recorded, and share your thoughts with the people closest to you. A conversation today can help ensure your voice is heard tomorrow.

Find out more

Advance Care Planning Day is a reminder that planning ahead is a positive and empowering part of looking after ourselves and each other.

To learn more about Advance Care Planning, speak to your healthcare professional or visit the Advance Care Planning Day website for resources and guidance: https://advancecareplanday.org/

At Harlington Hospice, we are here to support people and families through every stage of serious illness, helping ensure care is always guided by what matters most.