Advance or anticipatory care planning and coronavirus

Advance care planning (ACP) is a voluntary discussion between an individual, those close to them and their care provider(s). It enables people to plan for the future, ensuring their wishes are known when it comes to treatment and further care. It includes things like the sort of medical interventions they may or may not want if they become very ill and helps the person get the care that's right for them.

This process is referred to as advance care planning in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and anticipatory care planning in Scotland.

Advance care planning is something that anyone might find helpful and reassuring, but can be particularly important to people who have a progressive illness or who are approaching end of life.

Here are some resources to help primary care professionals find relevant guidance around how coronavirus affects their patients.

The coronavirus crisis means more people might be thinking about creating an advance care plan. This is because people who are vulnerable to coronavirus due to a pre-existing condition can deteriorate quickly and become unable to communicate their wishes. We understand conversations with your patients about things like this can be difficult. We have more information to help with difficult conversations and coronavirus.

Advance care planning should:

• be voluntary
• be sensitive and timely, and at the level of understanding of the individual, loved ones and carers
• be proactive, rather than reactive
• involve shared decision making
• involve the right people – family, multi-disciplinary professionals, if appropriate
• be person-centred and include discussions about what matters to the individual
• be documented and shared with family and health and social care professionals (with permission)
• be regularly reviewed and updated in writing or if a person’s condition, personal circumstances or preferences change.

We also have information about advance care planning for people living with cancer. You may find this helpful to share with your patients.

There are different things to think about when creating an Advance care plan. We have information for your patients about different ways they can plan ahead. You might find it helpful to share this with them.

• Document their wishes for their care.
• Create a power of attorney (Scotland) or a lasting power of attorney (England or Wales).
• Create an
• advance directive (Scotland)
• advance decision to refuse treatment (England or Wales)
• advance decision to treatment (Northern Ireland) - 'Your Life and Your Choices: Plan Ahead Northern Ireland' - page 43.
• Write a will.
• Record their wishes for organ and tissue donation.
• Plan their funeral.