As the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic develops, increasing numbers of seriously ill and dying patients are being cared for at home and in care homes by GPs, nurses, and their families and friends.

Significant challenges are emerging for primary care practitioners including: symptom management for the dying phase of COVID-19; planning and coordination of care for the dying person; supporting family members and loved ones to administer end-of-life medications if no doctors or nurses are able to visit quickly; and planning bereavement support for carers and families after someone dies.

Dr Stephen Barclay is Clinical Lead for End of Life Care for the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group; and Palliative and End of Life Care theme lead for Applied Research Collaboration East of England. He is developing clinical guidance on end-of-life care for COVID-19 patients and for those dying from other conditions during the pandemic. He has authored a set of resources for GPs, community nurses and the families and friends providing care to patients nearing the end of life. The resources have been distributed to primary care practitioners in the region. Some of the key items are listed here:

• • Covid-19 End of Life Care flowchart

  • Covid-19 End of Life Care Community End of Life Care Symptom Management

  • Covid-19 advice sheet for family and friends

All available at: https://www.cambridgeshireandpeterboroughccg.nhs.uk/health-professionals/prescribing-information/controlled-drugs-and-palliative-care/palliative-care-prescribing/

• • Covid-19 Death verification and certification

Available at https://cambslmc.org/covid-19-updates-and-resources/

• • Covid-19 Repurposing of End of Life Drugs in Care homes

Available at https://www.cambridgeshireandpeterboroughccg.nhs.uk/health-professionals/prescribing-information/formulary-and-drug-classification/prescribing-guidelines-and-policies/

Learn more

Dr Barclay is University Senior Lecturer in General Practice and Palliative Care at the University of Cambridge, General Practitioner and Honorary Consultant Physician in Palliative Care.

The Cambridge Palliative and End of Life Care Research Group, which is co-led by Dr Barclay and Dr Anna Spathis, is collecting a digest of publications addressing issues at the intersection of Coronavirus and palliative and end of life care, called Palliative care in the time of the Coronavirus

Contact

Lucy Lloyd, Communications, Primary Care Unit