WentWest has expanded its End of Life and Palliative Care team to provide additional support to GPs in Western Sydney. The team has coordinated and facilitated a series of webinars for primary care providers and works closely with primary care and palliative care service providers to facilitate integration, information sharing and streamlined pathways of care. These partnerships aim to give communities greater choices at home for palliative care services.
A GP in Western Sydney was contacted by the local hospital as a 74-year-old patient with lung cancer, chronic heart failure, rheumatoid arthritis, and diabetes wanted to return home following a long period in hospital. The patient, Geoff*, required oxygen and symptom management, and his family also relayed their wishes to stay at home with him in his final days.
The GP had recently attended a Palliative Care workshop hosted byWentWest and contacted WentWest’s End of Life and Palliative Care facilitator to obtain the details of a home care palliative care service provider. A referral was made, and Geoff was taken home from the hospital by ambulance, where the service provider met and assessed the patient. Appropriate medication was provided, and a syringe driver was set up. Geoff was made comfortable in his own home with regular visits by a GP and a Registered Nurse. Home and personal care were also provided to the patient as requested by the family.
Geoff’s family and friends were able to come and visit, bringing his favourite food, spending time reminiscing, and keeping him company. Within three weeks, Geoff passed away peacefully. The family was grateful for the assistance from their GP and service provider, who made their father’s final days pain-free and provided them with the opportunity to spend time together as a family.
*Name changed to protect the identity of this client
For further information, please contact our Palliative Care Program team at palliativecare@wentwest.com.au