19th May, 2016
Palliative care nurse urges people to put their personal health directives in writing
South West Queensland residents are being urged to document their future health care plans as part of
Palliative Care Week from 22 to 28 May.
South West Hospital and Health Service (SWHHS) Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Consultant Jenny
Rowe said it was important that people completed enduring powers of attorney and advanced health
directives.
“It’s important that the treatment and care you are offered in the future is what you wish for because
there may be a time when you cannot express these wishes for yourself,” she said.
“Planning in advance for one’s death allows individuals to make decisions before death arrives, rather
than someone making them on their behalf, when they are no longer able to do so themselves.
“People may be spared a prolonged life of poor quality as opposed to a dignified natural death.”
During Palliative Care Week South West HHS staff will give information on proposed cancer and
palliative care services at a display stand at Westlands Plaza in Roma.
There will also be an unmanned display in the Roma Hospital foyer.
The South West HHS Cancer and Palliative Care Team is part of the health service’s new Cancer Care
Service Project which will include the delivery of Roma-based cancer chemotherapy services starting in
July.
Over the next three months, Ms Rowe will draw on more than 20 years’ experience in hospital and
community end of life care to develop a model of palliative care in the South West for implementation
across the region.
“The Model of Care will research innovative programs such as ‘In Home Specialist Telehealth Palliative
Care’, following tremendous success experienced by Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service,
which may benefit SWHHS palliative patients.
“Telehealth services link nurses with Palliative Specialists, via an iPad, from the patient’s home,
therefore eliminating travel.”
Cancer Care Services funding will provide additional palliative care nurse positions throughout the
SWHHS.
Ms Rowe said providing quality palliative care should be holistic, rather than just preventing and or
relieving physical suffering for people at the end of life.
“Holistic care includes care of the physical body such as pain and symptoms, psychological care
including emotions, anger, fear, acceptance and grief; social care of the patient and family, as well as
spiritual care around the beliefs, religious and cultural customs,” she said.
”The definition of palliative care refers to supportive care from the carer and the family but care and
support of the carer is of equal importance to the patient.
Caring for a person who is palliative can put immense strain on the carer, resulting in carer strain.
“The carer is literally burnt out physically and emotionally and no longer able to care for the client.
“The patient may have no option but be hospitalised, which could be against their wishes.”
Ms Rowe’s experience includes working in Brisbane’s Karuna Hospice, the Prince Charles Hospital
Palliative Care Unit, Port Hedland Regional Hospital and as Palliative Care Coordinator in Roma in
2010/11.
Her passion in palliative care developed while nursing in aged care with Barwon Health in Geelong more
than 20 years ago.
“I felt there must be a more dignified way to die, and I was distraught to witness people dying without
dignity and privacy,” she said.
“This challenged me on my own journey to better understand death and dying.
“Probably the most significant change in palliative care during the past five years has been at a global
level.
“An international resolution was passed in 2014 calling for the World Health Organization and member
states to improve access to palliative care as a core component of health systems.
“Discussions around death and dying are becoming more familiar and, for example, the ABC Compass
program recently aired a discussion on end of life.
“Palliative Care Queensland, Palliative Care Australia and palliative care services provide information
and education regarding advanced care planning for end of life.
“The Australian Government is funding projects to empower Australians with information they need to
make their wishes known should their health status change.
“On a professional level, education and training in palliative care has improved greatly.”
Picture: From left, Clinical Nurse Consultant Jenny Rowe and project officers Saikim Wan and Clinical
Nurse Consultant Clare Hansen with posters advertising National Palliative Care Week and its theme
Living Well with Chronic Illness.
For further information contact:
Bev Malseed
Acting Public Affairs Officer,
South West Hospital and Health Service
45051571
[email protected]