COVID-19 Information & Resources

• Scottish Government. Coronavirus (COVID-19): palliative care toolkit. This toolkit provides health board planners with options that can be adapted and utlised locally in their response to COVID-19.        

•  Healthcare Improvement Scotland - Scottish Palliative Care Guidelines.

  Temporary guidelines are now available for symptom management:

  • Guidance for when a person is imminently dying from COVID-19 lung disease 
  • Guidance for supporting end of life care when alternatives to medication normally given through syringe pumps are required
    
  • The standard end of life care guidelines should be used for all other situations.

  Further guidance related to COVID-19 is also available and includes:

• Anticipatory Care Planning guidance
• Communications guide
• Practical resources to help professionals giving medicines
• Signposts to support members of the public through serious illness, death and loss 
• Support for professionals themselves          

• Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care: COVID-19 Guidance and Resources. These pages provide guidance for general practice, pharmacies, social & community care settings, palliative & end of life care settings, educational resources for professionals, making and communicating decisions as well as research and evidence.        

• Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh: Education Portal provides a programme of online continuing medical education including Covid-19 resources and online updates. New material is added each month.       

• Health Improvement Scotland - ihub. Anticipatory Care Planning for COVID-19. New resources to support ACP. Healthcare Improvement Scotland is currently working with the Scottish Government to develop COVID-19 specific ACP templates and guidance. Please check this page regularly for the latest national resources. 

• Marie Curie- Planning Your Care in Advance - this includes information and guidance such as 'Why plan ahead?', 'What is an advanced care plan?' and 'How do I make an advncaed care plan?'

• Marie Curie Information and Support Line, which includes nursing support. This is a 7 day a week service, open from 8am-6pm, Mon-Frid and 11am-5pm on Saturday/Sunday. The number to call is 0800 090 2309         

• COVID-19: Effective Communication for Professionals (RED-MAP resources).

         Talking with people & families about planning care, death and dying

         Care planning for people at risk of deteriorating and dying during COVID-19         

• Good Life, Good Death, Good Grief - Hoping for the best, planning for the worst. These web pages provide information for people in Scotland who may be worried that they, or someone they care about, is at increased risk of getting seriously ill and potentially dying from COVID-19. The information specifically addresses serious illness, death and bereavement.         

• NHS Education for Scotland - Support Around Death (SAD) - COVID-19 Bereavment Resources. This webpage provides resources for health & social care staff in Scotland concerning death and bereavement during the COVID-19 pandemic. It will be updated on an ongoing basis as new materials are developed. Some of the educational resources presented here were launched pre-COVID-19 and therefore some elements may not now be appropriate for the current situation within health and care settings, however many of the key points will still be of relevance for practitioners.         

• Scottish Network for Acute Palliative Care (SNAPC). The Scottish Network for Acute Palliative Care (SNAPC) connects hospital palliative care teams across Scotland to share learning, provide support and facilitate collaboration on issues of common interest. It is part Building on the Best project.        

• The Knowledge Network- COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Information. The Knowledge Network now hosts a range of resources to help health and social care employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. From the homepage you can find links to quality assured resources, guidance and evidence on a range of topics for all staff groups on the NHS Scotland Libraries’ dedicated portal        

•  Getting the most out of the virtual health and care experience 

A rapid, qualitative research study designed to understand the patient experience of remote and  virtual consultations. The project was conducted in England and engaged 49 people over 10 days (June 22nd – July 1st 2020) who had experienced a remote consultation during the lockdown period of the COVID-19 pandemic. Remote consultations took the form of telephone, video or text-based communication. Includes Top Tips For Getting The Most Out Of The Virtual Health And Care Experience