Palliative care nurses are invaluable in providing care, advice and comfort to our patients with life limiting illnesses. Until February these highly trained and experienced nurses who specialise in palliative care worked a 24 hour rota.
They were available for phone advice and also to call out to patients and carers who needed them. The end of life care they provided also meant that many patients were able to die at home if they wished.
From February this year, WA Country Health Service has withdrawn these services in Bunbury and surrounds after 5pm on weekdays and also after 2pm on weekends. This has led to many of our dying patients ending up in Emergency Departments and in hospital beds.
WACHS claim that there is still an advisory line available however this is merely an answering machine advising patients and carers to ring their on call GP service or go to their emergency department.
This is a sad backward step in our care for the dying. Carers and patients are feeling let down and alone at one of the most worrying, challenging and upsetting times of their lives. Dr Bu O’Brien.
Response
EACH district within the South West region has allocated palliative nursing positions. These nurses coordinate care for the patients within their community and provide some nursing care. They also attend hospitals and care facilities if required.
A clinical handover occurs between the palliative care nurses and the hospital nurses. Community patients are advised to call their local hospital after hours where a nurse will take the call and provide advice based on the clinical handover.
The palliative after-hours calls are being taken by the Bunbury Hospital after hours coordinator with a clinical handover from a palliative care nurse. All patients who call after hours receive a follow up phone call and an ‘in-person’ home visit the following day.
The after-hours calls are not going to an answering machine.
Some patients receiving home care will be required to attend hospital if their care needs exceed what can reasonably be managed at home.
WACHS South West regional director Kerry Winsor.
