Legislative Council, Tuesday 18 June 2024
Ms FORREST question to LEADER of the GOVERNMENT in the LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Mrs HISCUTT
1. With regard to specialist palliative care services provided by the multi-disciplinary team in Burnie:
a. What specific services are provided by the multi-disciplinary team;
b. What hours are these services provided;
c. How are these services accessed; and
d. How are patients and/or their families informed of these services?
2. With regard to rural outreach palliative care services in Burnie:
a. What specific services are provided by the rural outreach palliative care services;
b. What hours are these services provided;
c. How are these services accessed; and
d. How are patients and/or their families informed of these services?
ANSWER:
1a. The Specialist Palliative Care Service North West (SPCS NW) provides consultative holistic care for the complex needs of members of the community and their carers when faced with a life limiting illness.
The service provides specialist medical supports to assist with symptom management in complex care situations, nursing supports for symptom management, personal care and end of life planning.
The nurses also provide care management and coordination of community supports in collaboration with community and aged care nursing and disability care services.
The Comprehensive Palliative Care in Aged Care (CPCiAC) service is a program within the SPCS NW visiting 15 Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs), providing support to 2000 aged care residents and their loved ones in
RACFs across North West Tasmania including Queenstown and King Island monthly.
Education is provided to clinicians and carers ensuring best evidence-based practice and support for aged care residents allowing them to remain in their RACF receiving expert supported palliative care reducing unnecessary transfer to hospital.
CPCiAC supports residents and their families with complex end of life planning and bereavement supports with assessment and reassessment of patients and their needs through on-site visits, with phone and email supports as needed.
CPCiAC also provides direct support to General Practitioners (GPs) in the community in providing specialist support for their clients in RACFs.
1b. The service operates Monday to Friday 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, with after hours phone supports through GP Assist.
1c. Access to the service is through referrals. GPs have access to e-referral and paper-based referrals sent via email to the service. Hospital staff make referral though email to the service. Individuals, families, and community organisations can also contact the service directly by phoning the SPCS NW office on 6477 7760.
SPCS NW can be accessed through referrals for consultation and review by the CPCiAC Clinical Nurse Consultant (CNC) through email and direct contact with the CPCiAC CNC during site visits, or through direct referral to the service.
The service also offers consultation on site at North West Regional Hospital and Mersey Community Hospital to support people presenting to the Emergency Department and inpatients with palliative needs. This supports evidence-based care and support for patients and their loved ones while in hospital and, discharge planning to ensure safe and successful care in the community and supported, dignified end of life care for patients.
1d. Information about the Specialist Palliative Care Service is accessible to the community through the Department of Health website, Palliative Care Tasmania, GP services, and PalliHub.
SPCS NW staff connect with the wider community through delivering care co-ordination with carer and nursing organisations.
Following receipt of a referral, SPCS NW contacts the referrer, and the patient to inform of supports offered by the service and offer in person consultation with the patient and their loved ones in their home or at a clinic appointment if that is their preference.
2a. SPCS NW supports rural health facilities and patients with onsite visits to facilities such as King Island Hospital, Smithton District Hospital, West Coast District Hospital, Rosebery, and Zeehan Health Centres, as well as phone and telehealth consultations, and collaborative case conferences with patients and their care teams.
The service travels to rural facilities and to patient homes to deliver direct care in response to changes in patient needs. Additionally, the service has clinics where patients and their families can visit with SPCS NW where patients can connect with Palliative Care clinicians while receiving treatment at both North West Regional Hospital and Mersey Community Hospital.
2b. The service operates Monday to Friday 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, with after-hours phone supports through GP Assist.
2c. Access to the service is through referrals – GPs have access to E- referral and paper-based referrals sent via email to the service. Hospital staff make referral though email to the service. Individuals, families, and community organisations can also contact the service directly.
SPCS NW can be accessed through referrals for consultation and review by the CPCiAC Clinical Nurse Consultant (CNC) through email and direct contact with the CPCiAC CNC during site visits, or through direct referral to the service.
2d. Information about the Specialist Palliative Care Service is accessible to the community through the Tasmanian Health Service website, Palliative Care Tasmania, GP services, and PalliHub. SPCS NW staff connect with the wider community through delivering care co-ordination with carer and nursing organisations. The SPCS provides educational opportunities such as placement for nurses and allied health professionals in the Program of
Excellence in the Palliative Approach (PEPA) which exposes health professionals to the service, patient care and supports in an immersive clinical experience.
Following receipt of a referral, SPCS NW contacts the referrer, and the patient to inform of supports offered by the service and offer in person consultation with the patient and their loved ones in their home or at a clinic appointment if that is their preference.
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