Guidance for professionals
This section has links to a number of resources relevant to the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, UK-wide and internationally. This section will be added to as we are made aware of new resources.
Republic of Ireland
Northern Ireland
UK
International
Republic of Ireland
Department of Health – COVID 19
Health Service Executive – COVID 19
COVID-19 HSE Clinical Guidance and Evidence Repository - site provides a repository of clinical guidance and latest research evidence to equip the clinical community in Ireland to respond to Covid-19.
Ethical Framework for decision-making in a pandemic (Department of Health)
Health Protection Surveillance Centre - Guidance for healthcare workers
Palliative Care Guidelines - A tool kit for Covid-19 management (National Palliative Care Clinical Programme):
- Cover Letter
- Anticipatory prescribing in the last hours or days of life
- Syringe pump prescribing in the last hours or days of life
- Non-Pharmacological Care in the Last Hours or Days of Life
- Management of severe breathlessness in the Last Hours or Days of Life
- Prescribing regular subcutaneous medications in last hours or days of life
- Recognising dying in the last hours or days of life
Additional document for carers and families:
Covid-19 Community Call – Department of Rural and Community Development:
- Local Authority Helpline Numbers and Email Addresses
- Further Information on Community Call
- The Community Call – Advice & Contact Information for Your County
COVID 19 Guidance for staff working in residential care facilities for older people
HSE Guidance for care of the deceased person during the COVID-19 pandemic (Link)
Planning Ahead & Bereavement Resources:
COVID Care and Inform (Irish Hospice Foundation) - information resources and videos on the themes of Grief, Funerals in Exceptional Times, Planning Ahead and resources for Healthcare Professionals.
- Support & Advice on Grief & Loss
- Resources for Healthcare Professionals
- Planning Ahead
- Latest Research & Information
Northern Ireland
Department of Health- COVID 19
Public Health Agency – Covid-19
Public Health Agency – Guidance for healthcare Professionals
Palliative Care in Partnership Information for Health and Social Care Professionals
COVID-19: Symptom Management in Last Days of Life - For use in Secondary and Primary Care Settings (April 2020) RPMG - to be considered in conjunction with Guidance for the Management of Symptoms in Adults in the Last Days of Life (RPMG 2018)
Hope, Hints and "How To" - Helping you respond to living and dying issues during COVID-19
Northern Ireland guidelines on converting doses of opioid analgesics for adult use (HSC 2018)
COVID-19: Chief Nursing Officer News Updates for Nursing & Midwifery across Northern Ireland
Your Life Your Choices – Advance Care Planning Resources
Other Support
Marie Curie – Information & Support Service including Support Line
Planning Ahead & Bereavement Resources:
COVID-19 bereavement resources – Public Health Agency
Cruse - Coronavirus: dealing with bereavement and grief
COVID Care and Inform (Irish Hospice Foundation) - information resources and videos on the themes of Grief, Funerals in Exceptional Times, Planning Ahead and resources for Healthcare Professionals.
- Support & Advice on Grief & Loss
- Resources for Healthcare Professionals
- Planning Ahead
- Latest Research & Information
UK
Better End of Life 2021 Report – Dying, death and bereavement during Covid-19 Research Report (April 2021) – The report shows how palliative and end of life care in the UK was compromised by shortages of PPE, essential medicines, and equipment, because these services were not seen as 'frontline NHS' in the pandemic.
Association for Palliative Medicine of Great Britain and Ireland - Guidance document "COVID-19 and Palliative, End of Life and Bereavement Care in Secondary Care Role of the specialty and guidance to aid care" (22 March 2020). An editable word version is also available from their site
National Institute for Health an Care Excellent NICE, UK - rapid guideline: critical care in adults including 1-page critical care admission algorithm
Effective Communication for Healthcare - COVID-19: Effective communication for professionals including A4 Guide
In response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, members from cohort 12 of the Scottish Quality Safety Fellowship, with Hazel White from Open Change, have created visuals on 3 key topics which they hope are of benefit to others. These resources are available below as PowerPoints and PDF Posters – view here
- Stress, Coping and Resilience
- Difficult Conversations - Why we need to talk about dying
- Care Homes and Coronavirus.
The Royal Society of Medicine COVID-19 learning hub gives healthcare workers on the frontlines regular updates from healthcare leaders on COVID-19
St Christopher's Hospice, UK have produced a set of four videos designed to help people maintain strength and function and also to aid relaxation at home
VERDIS ‘Real Talk’ Project UK have produced 'COVID-19: evidence-based advice about difficult conversations' for people who are likely to be having – and training people who will have – difficult conversations in the care of people with COVID-19
International