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:

• What you can do to practically care for someone who is in their last days or hours of life

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

Preliminary Clinical and Infection Control Guidance for COVID-19 in Nurse-led Residential Care Facilities (RCF) - HSE

Coroners Service

Planning Ahead & Bereavement Resources:

A Guide for the Bereaved during the COVID-19 Pandemic – Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government

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

• Palliative Care in Partnership: End of Life Care in Care Homes during Covid-19

COVID Community symptom control and end of life care for General Practice (RCGP & APM 2020)

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

NHS England - Clinical guide for the management of palliative care in hospital during the coronavirus pandemic Keeping the care in healthcare

Other Support

Marie Curie – Information & Support Service including Support Line

Macmillan Cancer Support

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

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 

Association of Paediatric Palliative Medicine (APPM)– Clinical guidelines for children and young people with palliative care needs in all care settings during the coronavirus pandemic

Together for Short Lives - Coronavirus: Guidance for professionals caring for children and young people

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

European Association for Palliative Care - Coronavirus and the palliative care response

International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care - Resources relevant to Palliative Care and COVID-19