The GP is the responsible senior clinician in the provision of palliative care to individuals with a learning disability. Starting from pre-diagnosis, through the process of diagnosis, treatment, continuing illness, or death and into the bereavement stages. GPs help in the following ways:
- Planning of care with the Specialist Palliative Care Team.
- Anticipation of any possible problems.
- Regular medical assessment of symptoms and advice about further management.
- Co-ordinate home care support for individuals with complex needs who wish to stay at home.
- Integrate the medical, psychological and information requirements for the individual’s care.
- Assess the need for specialist help and advice for individuals and liaise with their family/carers.
- Prescribe and de-prescribe and provide help as needed.
- Notify the out of hours team and provide them with the information needed about the individual.
- Decide with the individual and family/carers about preferences and future care, to keep the individual in control even at the end of their life and plan ways to avoid inappropriate hospital admission where appropriate.