In the past months there had been anecdotal evidence of Clinical Ethic Support Services (CESS) being established in the UK in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The number and forms of previously established CESSs in the UK had been difficult to establish.

As part of a larger British Academy funded project on Ethics Committees in Pandemic we conducted a UK-wide cross sectional online survey to describe the availability, characteristics and role of CESSs in the UK prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

We received 53 responses; eight reported not having CESS provision prior to or during the pandemic, 26 had an established CESS prior to the pandemic and 19 set up one in response to the pandemic.

CESSs varied in size and membership, the professional and patients' groups they served and the services they provided, including guidance development, moral distress support and education. Patients and carers' involvement was uncommon.

New services and forms of clinical ethics support were developed in response to the pandemic, with different models being reported.

Further research is needed to better understand the provision of clinical ethics support in the UK to enhance CESSs' availability and consistency across institutions.

More information about the project can be found here:

https://www.qub.ac.uk/sites/ethics-committees-in-pandemic/