Patient support at forefront of new palliative care initiatives

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Patient support at forefront of new palliative care initiatives
Patient support at forefront of new palliative care initiatives

West Moreton Health palliative care patients and their families are benefitting from a range of new initiatives to expand and strengthen palliative care services in the region.

Delivered through the Queensland Government’s $171 million Palliative Care Reform program, the local initiatives include:

  • Employing additional allied health, medical and nursing staff to expand the Hospital in the Home program to treat palliative care patients
  • Employing two new palliative care doctors, with a third to commence this month
  • Commencing specialist palliative care clinics at all West Moreton Health rural hospitals
  • Establishing a palliative care consult team to improve access to specialist palliative care across the hospital setting
  • Providing in-home psychology support for palliative care patients
  • Appointing a Palliative Care Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Liaison Officer

West Moreton Health Palliative Care Services Acting Nurse Unit Manager Ela Thompson said the improvements were designed to make the end-of-life process as comfortable as possible for patients and their loved ones.

“We know it can be an incredibly sad and stressful time when people enter palliative care, but we want our patients to know we are here to help,” Ms Thompson said.

“Providing safe, compassionate care is always our priority so being able to deliver new and expanded palliative care services for our patients is incredibly important.

“In particular, providing more in-home care through additional staff and programs such as Hospital in the Home is so valuable, as we know many patients feel more comfortable receiving care in their home.

“Hospital in the Home allows us to admit people to a virtual ward and treat them as inpatients in their own home, rather than having to come to hospital for inpatient care.

“Specialist palliative care clinics and in-home psychology support, as well as the appointment of a First Nations Liaison Officer, have also been specifically introduced to ensure we are meeting the needs of our local community.

“It’s all about making sure our patients feel comfortable and supported.”

Ms Thompson said plans were also underway to expand West Moreton Health’s Rural Palliative Care Service, establish a bereavement support service and link patients with chronic conditions into palliative care early to improve their quality of life.

“We are continually looking at ways to make things better for our patients and these are initiatives that will make a real, positive difference,” Ms Thompson said.

“It is important we can continue to care for patients and their families not just through medical treatment, but with comprehensive services such as bereavement support.

“Palliative care is so much more than most people think. By linking in early and providing the best possible care and support, we help people manage their symptoms so they can live as well as they can.”