Practical supports are available to assist GPs in caring for dying patients and their carers, particularly patients dying at home.
Involving other services shares the load, and can improve outcomes for patients. Services may include:
- Palliative care medical and nursing visits to monitor and advise on overall symptom control, and for access to syringe drivers
- Generalist or specialist community nursing services to provide daily nursing care
- Palliative care allied health professionals to organise equipment such as hospital beds, continence aids, and so on
- Additional nursing (eg, for overnight) can sometimes be arranged through private agencies for patients with health insurance, or via specific short-term funding – your local palliative care service may be able to advise you
- The local palliative care service may have other resources they can offer your patients, such as volunteer support or sitter services, social work and counselling. Contact them for more information.
The specific roles and availability of each of these agencies can vary between regions.
When several providers are involved, carers may be unsure of who to contact about specific problems. Clarifying your own availability and when to call other services can reduce carer anxiety, and ensure appropriate follow up happens as needed.
Palliative care services generally offer a 24 hour contact phone number that can assist you in ensuring around the clock support for dying patients.
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TIP - It is helpful for families to hear that an expected death is not an emergency. When the person dies, there is no rush to call for help. The family can have quiet time together, and care for the body as they wish, before informing anyone.
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This page was created on 26 May 2009 and is due for review in May 2011.