The Development of an Enhanced Palliative Care Pharmacy Service during the Initial COVID-19 Surge

Abstract

The Northern Health and Social Care Trust developed an enhanced palliative care pharmacy service for acute inpatients within a large hospital in Northern Ireland during the initial COVID-19 surge. By training additional staff, there was an opportunity to increase service provision, utilising palliative care pharmacy skills to undertake activities such as the symptom management of patients, appropriate management of medicines, improved access to medicines, advice for other healthcare professionals, and supporting discharge from the hospital. The data collected showed a mean of 6.8 interventions per patient, and that, irrespective of the demand resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the palliative care pharmacy team had a role in improving the quality of care for palliative and end-of-life patients. Subsequent data analysis also demonstrated associated cost saving and the potential for the palliative care pharmacy team to reduce the length of stay at the hospital.

Pharmacists’ clinical roles and activities in inpatient hospice and palliative care: a scoping review

“…The others sources originated from the United Kingdom (n = 3/22, 13.6%), Poland (n = 1/22, 4.5%), and Qatar/Canada (n = 1/23, 4.5%). The majority of the included articles (n = 12/22, 54.5%) were original articles [ 21 , 32 – 42 ], followed by articles classified as practice reports (n = 6/22, 27.3%) [ 43 – 48 ] and practice research reports (n = 4/22, 18.2%) [ 26 , 49 – 51 ].…”

“…However, only five reported measurable impacts on clinical outcomes. Five articles reported findings from cost analyses (see Table 2 ) with all demonstrating an association between the provision of pharmacy services and potential cost savings [ 26 , 33 , 35 , 37 , 51 ]. One of these articles showed that there was no significant association between the time spent by the pharmacist performing services and the number of medication requirements and per diem medication costs, regardless of the pharmacist chosen by the hospices (prescription benefits manager, pharmacist on staff or both) [ 35 ].…”

“…A European whitepaper on standards and norms for HPC lists pharmacists as members of the multiprofessional team in the provision of PC services, yet fails to define their roles [ 25 ]. The COVID-19 situation contributed efforts to further develop the role of pharmacists in HPC [ 26 ] and pharmacy services in patients with advanced cancer are increasingly implemented [ 27 ]. However, the scope of HPC is much broader.…”

Council of Europe Resolution on the Implementation of Pharmaceutical Care—A Step Forward in Enhancing the Appropriate Use of Medicines and Patient-Centred Care

“…In many countries, pharmacists contribute to the provision of palliative care in hospices and hospitals [51].…”

Adaptação transcultural e validação do Pharmacy Services Questionnaire para Angola

“…Introdução: A satisfação dos utentes é um importante resultado para avaliar os aspetos dos serviços que carecem de melhorias (Hanley et al, 2021). No contexto da farmácia, a avaliação da satisfação tem sido conduzida por meio do uso do Pharmacy Services Questionnaire (PSQ) bidimensional, com 20 itens e categoria de resposta na escala de Likert até 5 pontos (Larson et al, 2002).…”