Methods

1. Pilot study of Palliative Care GP-Out of Hours Handover Form Authors: Marie Lynch, Irish Hospice Foundation; Sarah Murphy, Irish Hospice Foundation; Dr Eamonn Shanahan, The Farranfore Medical Centre, SouthDoc,; Annette Heffernan, SouthDoc Background • The IHF/ICGP/IHF Primary Palliative Care in Ireland report recommended the introduction of formal methods to support the handover of information on patient’s palliative care needs. In the event of a call to the Out of Hours (OOH) service, this information would support the OOH team in their clinical assessment and decision making. • The project has also been informed by research carried out by Dr Fiona Kiely on over 400 GPs in Cork and Kerry which found that: • While 82% of GPs do not routinely transfer information pertaining to end-of-life issues to the out-of-hours service, 96% would value a standardised way of transferring information • 67% felt they sometimes refer unnecessarily to hospital emergency departments due to lack of information (BMJ Support Palliat Care doi:10.1136/bmjspcare-2012-000281) Objectives There is currently no standardised palliative care handover form in use in Ireland. The objective of the introduction of the Palliative Care GP-Out of Hours handover form is to enable GPs to anticipate the palliative care needs of their patients, at home or in a residential setting, that might arise out of traditional working hours and to communicate these needs in advance to out of hours providers. Methods • The handover form was developed by a subcommittee of clinical staff, based on an existing form used in NHS Scotland that was adapted according to the language and headings used in the HSE GP referral form • Palliative care fields on the form include: symptoms; medications; syringe driver; CPR status; and relevant prognosis • Information leaflets for GPs were also developed • This form will be faxed from GP to OOH services • SOUTHDOC PILOT • Form is to be piloted inSouth Doc (Cork and Kerry) • The evaluation of pilot will include GP experience in • using the form and the palliative care information received by to the OOH service • Pilot evaluation will inform future GP referral templates. • Ethical approval for the pilot is being sought from ICGP • GOAL: There are approximately 50 calls to SouthDoc a month with a palliative element. The target is that half of • these could be anticipated. Results The form will be made available to the 600 GPs working in the South Doc Region. There are approximately 50 calls to SouthDoc a month which have a palliative element. The target is that half of these could be anticipated. Results will be available when the six month pilot phase has concluded. Discussion Research shows that OOH service providers welcome the introduction of a standard mechanism to hand-over information related to patient’s palliative needs (Kiely et al, 2012): this can be provided through the palliative care GP-OOH handover form Conclusions • As well as supporting responsive, safer patient care, based on UK research in this area, it is also expected that the existence of this form will assist in doctors enhancing their skills in anticipating the palliative care needs of their patients. Contact points for further information: Annette Heffernan at SouthDoc Tel: 1850 335 999 www.hospice-foundation.ie; marie.lynch@hospice-foundation.ie or sarah.murphy@hopice-foundation.ie Tel: 01 6793188 February 2013