The role and response of primary care and community nursing in the delivery of palliative care in epidemics and pandemics: a rapid review to inform practice and service delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic, CEBM

The provision of palliative care to patients, families and communities is core to the role and identity of primary care physicians. General practitioners (GPs) or family physicians (FPs), and community nurses, have the potential and skills to deliver palliative and end-of-life care integrated into every encounter in the community when their working environment allows this, and with the support of specialist colleagues. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, barriers to effective palliative and end of life care in the community by GPs included a lack of time with patients and families, inadequate support services in the community, insufficient education and training and inconsistent access to specialist palliative care services.
Source: Current Awareness Service for Health (CASH) - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news