A current concern for primary care clinicians is how to manage end of life care in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Lisa and Sara are joined by Dr Liam Hosie, Dr Adam Firth and Dr Viren Mehta who have sifted through the key information and guidelines that are available on this topic.
We talk about:
- Advanced care planning
- Common symptoms for patients with COVID-19 at the end of life
- Discuss 5 guidelines (including NICE, RCGP, Hospice UK) relevant to this topic and some take home messages
- Anticipatory medication and stock issues
- Post death support for families and for clinicians
Listen to the podcast at https://www.pckb.org/e/covid-19-episode-5-end-of-life-care.
Resources
- Dr Adam Firth Stockport Grand Round: Making sense of symptom control guidance in suspected COVID – a GPs perspective: https://app.box.com/s/in48s14ee7r1c0pzk2i63m914gr1p0um
- NG31 NICE Guidelines: Care of dying adults in the last days of life (Dec 2015): https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng31
- GMMMG Guidelines: Palliative care pain and symptom control: http://gmmmg.nhs.uk/docs/guidance/GMMMG-Palliative-Care-Pain-and-Symptom-Control-Guidelines-for-Adults-v1-1.pdf#search=%22end%20of%20life%22
- RCGP: Community palliative, end of life and bereavement care in the COVID-19 pandemic (March 2020): https://elearning.rcgp.org.uk/pluginfile.php/149342/mod_resource/content/1/COVID%20Community%20symptom%20control%20and%20end%20of%20life%20care%20for%20General%20Practice%20FINAL.PDF
- NICE COVID-19 rapid guideline: Managing symptoms (including at the end of life) in the community (Apr 2020): https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng163
- Hospice UK guidance including advice for carers and health care professionals: https://www.hospiceuk.org/what-we-offer/clinical-and-care-support/coronavirus-guidance
- Harvard Business Review: That Discomfort You’re Feeling Is Grief: https://hbr.org/2020/03/that-discomfort-youre-feeling-is-grief
- Funerals and Dying in Absentia: Inspiration and tips during COVID-19: http://www.orderofthegooddeath.com/funerals-dying-in-absentia-inspiration-tips-during-covid-19
- RCGP: End of Life Care Quality Improvement Resources: https://www.rcgp.org.uk/clinical-and-research/resources/a-to-z-clinical-resources/daffodil-standards/end-of-life-care-quality-improvement-resources.aspx
