With Palliative Care week coming up in May, it’s a great time to turn the spotlight on our own specialist palliative care team.
Back in September 2021, palliative care services across our LHD got a huge boost when they transitioned into a streamed service.
Previously, palliative care staff were attached to community health centres and hospitals. This change streamlined services and created a District-wide team with standardised practices and an aim to provide more equitable access for patients.
“The multi-disciplinary team of occupational therapists, social workers, nurses, and doctors can easily travel 1,000 plus kilometers in a week across the length and breadth of the District, between hospitals, patient homes, clinics and residential aged care facilities. All with the goal of enabling people to live their best life with whatever life-limiting diagnosis they have,” said Manager Specialist Palliative Care Michelle Bridges.
Demand for specialist palliative care services has grown over the years.
“It’s a combination of people becoming more aware of the services we offer and people living longer with life-limiting conditions,” Michelle said.
“Although it fluctuates, we’re currently supporting 391 people (not including hospital inpatients) to live their days with dignity.”
So how does the team support people to ‘live their best life’?
The team listens to what’s really important to the patient and attempts to support them to make it happen. Many people have significant life events such as weddings, birthdays, or graduations for themselves or loved ones that they want to be well enough to attend.
“We do our best to help them to achieve their personal aims. We can also connect loved ones who live far away into our consults virtually so that everyone can be involved,” Michelle said.
“All the team are highly skilled in having difficult conversations with patients and their loved ones. It’s not something everyone can do.
“To work in palliative care, people are generally highly empathetic and compassionate. They recognise how rewarding it can be to support someone to achieve their wishes at the end of their live.”
Clinical supervision, lifestyle practices including sport or music, and having a healthy life outside work are all key for longevity in working in palliative care.
“We offer and encourage a variety of activities around how people can manage their self-care. Last year we did a creative writing workshop and I-Care modules.
“I work with an exceptional bunch of people,” smiled Michelle. “I’m absolutely honoured to work with such a passionate group of professionals, they amaze me every day with what they can achieve.”
National Palliative Care Week, 19-25 May, will focus on connecting community with the ‘people at the heart of quality palliative care’ – the nurses, social workers, volunteers, doctors and many others, so they get a deeper understanding of what palliative care is.