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 a family who was concerned about their father, Rob*, a 94-year-old man with a history of chronic kidney disease, renal failure, diabetes, atrial fibrillation, coronary artery bypass graft and a pacemaker. His agitation and shortness of breath had grown more severe, and his family wanted him to be comfortable at home in his last days and no longer wanted to call an ambulance to take him to the hospital.
Thanks to WentWest’s webinar training and follow-up visits from WentWest’s End of Life and Palliative Care Facilitator, the GP had become aware of a service provider that provides in-home palliative care services. The GP made the referral to the service provider, and within a couple of hours, the provider was able to visit Rob’s home to provide him with medication to keep him comfortable.
A Registered Nurse (RN) from the service provider also visited the family to set up Rob’s bed in a comfortable position. Within four hours of the family’s GP’s call to the service provider, their father was in bed, rested and comfortable. The RN reported that Robert looked peaceful and without pain.
The family had time to contact other family members to come and say their goodbyes. Over the weekend, the house was full of laughter, conversations, singing, praying, and celebrating his life.
A day later, Rob died in his own home, surrounded by his family. The family thanked their GP and the service provider for the quick response that made it possible for their father to spend such special last moments at home.
*Name changed to protect the identity of this client
For further information, please contact our Palliative Care Program team at palliativecare@wentwest.com.au