Purpose
This framework provides guidance for GPs who provide - or aspire to provide – skilled care beyond that expected of every GP. You may already have a special interest in palliative and end of life care from roles before CCT or developed an interest since becoming a GP. Alternatively, you may want to vary your career and expand your portfolio to offer this as a service or be employed to provide specialist care for a commissioned service. If you are already acting as a palliative or end of life care GP, this framework offers a benchmark and recommendations for professional development with suggestions for further progression.
As well as guiding GPs who wish to enhance their role in palliative and end of life care, the framework aims to support appraisers in interpreting supporting information presented to them from GPs in this type of role, and potentially help employers to create relevant role descriptions.
The role described in this framework, which we refer to as a GPwER Palliative and End of Life Care (GPwER PEoLC) is a type of healthcare and support given to patients who need palliative or end of life care and is characterised by an interdisciplinary and person-centred approach.
It is recognised that several variations of this role are likely to exist, each designed around local health population needs. Therefore, the framework does not seek to establish a rigid uniform model, rather it offers guidance around good practice that we hope is practically helpful and universally relevant.
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the following for their work in support of the development of this framework:
Dr Polly Edmonds, Dr Karen Chumbley FRCGP, Dr Sarah Human, Professor Max Watson FRCGP, Dr Amy Gadoud, Dr Erin Kadodwala
Dr Catherine Millington-Sanders for her support with the wider consultation.
Declarations of interests by authors
The contributors above have declared the following Declarations of Interest:
Pecuniary
Professor Max Watson
- Director Project ECHO Hospice UK
- Involved in virtual health networks with GPs and other health care professionals across Northern Ireland and across the UK
Dr Karen Chumbley FRCGP
- Chief Clinical Officer at St Helena Hospice
- Associate Professional Director for Frailty and End of Life Care for Suffolk and North East Essex ICB
Non-Pecuniary
Dr Polly Edmonds
- Chair of the Royal College of Physicians Joint Royal College Postgraduate Training Board Palliative Medicine Specialty Advisory Committee
Professor Max Watson
- Creator of Integrated Care Fellowship programme for consultant training and the European Certificate of Palliative Care and the PANG guidelines
Dr Erin Kadodwala
- Co-Chair of Association of Palliative Medicine Trainees Committee
Framework review
If you notice any inaccuracies in the framework or have comments or suggestions on any of the content, please contact the professional standards team.
Date the framework was approved: October 2024
Date for next review: October 2027