Dear colleagues,
The COVID-19 outbreak currently being experienced around the world is unprecedented and requires everyone to work together to contribute to the health and well-being of populations as well as ensure that appropriate guidance and sharing of good practice occurs. This is essential in order to support the care of patients at the end of their lives or who are significantly unwell as the result of both COVID-19 or other possibly life-limiting illnesses.
This guidance, which is been prepared for secondary care initially and is not intended to be comprehensive, has been prepared and collated locally by the Northern Care Alliance NHS Group and the Association for Palliative Medicine of Great Britain and Ireland. While it is not nationally endorsed by the National Health Service, it may be useful to colleagues throughout the country when preparing their own guidance.
Please feel free to use, adapt and share this guidance appropriately, acknowledging where specific individuals have been identified as contributing to discrete parts of the guidance.
This will be a ‘live’ document that will be updated, expanded and adapted as further contributions are received and in line with changing national guidance. The most current version of the guidance document will be available on the Association for Palliative Medicine website Home Page at all times. It is advised that you always check that you are referring to the most current version. Please do not share the guidance on social media, as it contains some information that may be distressing to the public if not presented in a sensitive way with appropriate opportunity for discussion and explanation.
This guidance is subject to change as developments occur. Every effort will be made to keep this guidance up to date. Additional information can be found at on the Government website.
As far as is possible in such a short period of time, the information contained within this document has been checked by experts from across the palliative care profession. However, neither the Northern Care Alliance NHS Group nor the Association for Palliative Medicine of Great Britain and Ireland can accept any responsibility for errors or omissions in this document.
Please click here for COVID-19 guidance in word format
Please click here for COVID-19 guidance in PDF format
Areas updated in version 2 are:
· Management of cough
· Management of delirium
· Addition of one page symptom control chart
· Addition of our guidance on visiting and communicating with relatives who are not allowed to visit
Please note that unfortunately we are unable to respond to all queries that we are receiving at the moment. We have compiled a list of websites and useful resources for healthcare professionals for you to refer to. Please click here to view.
Dr Justin Amery has also kindly produced some YouTube videos suitable for the public. Please click here to view.
Should you have any questions or wish to provide the APM with any further resources that you feel would be beneficial, please contact Compleat Secretariat in the first instance.
**Last Updated 27 March 2020**