Anticipatory Prescribing in community End of Life Care
by Dr Ben Bowers
Recent innovations and research in end-of-life anticipatory prescribing practice were discussed at a national Study Day hosted by PELiCam on 21 September 2022.
The national Cross-Applied Health Research Collaboration (ARC) event brought healthcare professionals and researchers together to share and discuss recent research and practice innovations and consider their implications for practice. There has been considerable interest and developments in anticipatory prescribing research and care recently, in part in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Study Day attendees, 21 September 2022
Over seventy attendees from across the country came together in-person. Attendees included community nurses, general practitioners, palliative care doctors and nurses, public contributors, pharmacists and healthcare researchers.
Professor Kristian Pollock, University of Nottingham, started the day by discussing recent research insights and providing constructive challenge on ‘Anticipatory prescribing and brokering death.’
The latest research into families and clinicians’ experiences of anticipatory medication care, especially during out of hours periods, were discussed through a series of research presentations. Attendees also shared their own experiences of care during workshops. Innovative schemes facilitating family carers to administer injectable anticipatory medications, with suitable clinical advice and support, were also shared and reflected upon.
The day was concluded with Bella Madden and Roberta Lovick, public contributors, sharing their reflections on the day and the importance of timely and effective symptom control, within the context of person and family-centred care.
There was huge appetite to discuss this important and challenging component of end-of-life care. There was a real buzz of excitement and interest in the room, with attendees reflecting on practice, networking and sharing ideas thought the day.
“I want to congratulate you and your team and guest speakers for such an informative and relevant subject. I can honestly say it is the best study day I have attended.”
Clinician attendee
Resources from Study Day
See the Study Day Programme
View available presentations
Challenges of AP administration at home – Ben Bowers
Mobile app supporting carer administration – Imogen Eastwood
Family experiences of AP at home – Christina Faull
Hospice experience of AP on discharge – Joy Ross, Charlotte Lee, Tammy Tran
Family-administered Just in Case medications: the Suffolk process – Sarah Mollart