With an increasing number of patients identifying home as their preferred place of death, GPs are finding themselves at the frontline of providing end-of-life care. Although there is often support available from specialist palliative care teams in the community, GPs are themselves highly capable of providing good general palliative care, commencing advance care planning and supporting patients and their relatives through what can be a difficult time. Early identification of patients approaching the end of their life enables effective planning, prioritisation of care, and making sure that appropriate resources are available, allowing patients to receive care in a timely and coordinated manner.
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