As we continue to navigate our way through the changing health care environment, we’ve developed a range of resources to support any health care professional during this time.
We’ve drawn on the collective knowledge and experience of the palliative care sector to provide practical and clinically reviewed resources as well as a range of websites that might be helpful at this time.
Key websites to visit regularly
- New Zealand Ministry of Health
- Te Rōpū Whakakaupapa Urutā is the National Māori Pandemic Group
- Unite Against COVID-19
NZ based sites that have a wide variety and focus of information:
- Talking COVID – created by Health Quality and Safety Commission
- Te Ara Whakapiri – Principles and Guidance for Last Days of Life.
- Telehealth has a range of specific resources for COVID-19 consultations
- Pharmac has a range of information around accessing medications during this time.
- Ministry of Health Funerals and tangihanga guidelines
- Starship has a range of paediatric palliative care resources via their website – search palliative care in the search bar for a wide range of information.
Resources for Aotearoa
We are reviewing these resources at regular intervals, please ensure you are accessing the most recent version. All versions here are current.
Please destroy any previous printed copies of out of date versions to ensure the most current information is being used.
Communication for all health care professionals
1. Phone consultations – COVID-19 resource – V2 23 August 2020
2. Communications tips for all stages – COVID-19 resources – V2 23 August 2020
3. Goals of Care COVID-19 resource – V2 23 August 2020
4. Giving serious news – COVID-19 resource – V2 23 August 2020
Support for Aged Residential Care providers
Mananging palliative care in ARC during COVID-19 pandemic – Aug 21
Guide for accessing syringe driver resources and training for ARC Community – Aug 2021
Nursing guidelines
End of Life Nursing Considerations – COVID-19 patients – August 2021
Symptom control/medication
Sublingual medication administration – COVID-19 – Aug 2021
Supporting documents to sublingual medications:
- Support doc – Sublingual (under the tongue) and buccal (cheek) Instruction for Carers – Aug 2021
- Support doc – Sublingual -Medication-Order-for-Family-Carer – Aug 2021
Symptom control for people dying with COVID-19 – Aug 2021
Managing symptoms at end of life without a Syringe Driver – Aug 2021
Paediatrics – support for children
How to tell children someone has died – V1 17 April 2020
Guidance on Collaboration to support children’s pallaitive care – V1 17 April 2020
Supporting children when family member dies during COVID-19
How to support children when a family member dies V1 – 5 May 2020
Spiritual support/readings/resources:
- How to keep the greater good in mind during the Coronavirus Outbreak – Greater Good Science Centre UC Berkley
- All together in a sudden strangeness – Harvard Divinity School
- Interprofessional Spiritual Care in the Time of COVID-19
Support for front line workers during the pandemic – self care
We appreciate that front line health workers are currently facing many challenges in their roles caring for people who are dying across all settings. The effect of social distancing on how care has to be provided and how a patients family and whānau are able to be involved are having a significant impact on health care workers across all settings.
We suggest that in the first instance you look to your workplace EAP (Employee Assistance Programme) for advice and support.
Below are some links that staff and those leading teams may find useful as we navigate the challenges of the current situation:
https://www.mentalhealth.org.nz/get-help/covid-19/wellbeing-for-frontline-health-workers/
International websites and resources:
- Worldwide Hospice Palliative Care Alliance
- Palliative Care Australia
- Australian and New Zealand Society of Palliative Medicine (ANZSPM)
- Resources to develop compassionate communities
- NICE (National Institue of Health Care Excellence UK) have released some guidance on critical care including an algorithm on pre- critical care decision-making NICE.org.uk
- Hospice UK – Coronavirus guidance
- EAPC (European Association of Palliative Care)
- Helix centre (UK) – End of Life Care toolkits for Carers at Home.
- Palliative Care Formulary – expert drug information for health professionals when caring for adult patients facing progressive life-limiting diseases
- Global Palliative Care has a range of articles and resources around COVID-19 – click here for their website
Research/published articles of relevance:
- Research article – University of Glasgow
- Article – Managing Mental Health Challenges for Healthworkers during a Pandemic – BMJ
- Article – What should Palliative Care’s response to COVID-19 be? – Journal of Pain and Symptom Management
- Blog post https://www.equityinpalliativecare.com/post/covid-19-equity-informed-palliative-care-the-socially-disadvantaged
