Authors
- Deb Hynds1,
- Kathleen M Wurth1,
- Kate Munro1
- Hunter New England Local Health District1
2015
Excerpt
In 2013/14 Hunter New England Health Local Health District (LHD) demonstrated commitment to their End of Life Strategy by appointing three End of Life Care Coordinator roles and the Better End of Life Care Committee, to improve end-of-life care. This presentation reports the challenges and rewards of implementing a new service to meet the needs of the Local Health District for palliative and end-of-life care and to achieve the goals of the Advance Planning for Quality Care at End of Life Action Plan 2013-2018.
What did we do?
We audited and reported on current practices and processes in end-of-life care across the major acute hospitals in the District. We researched end of life initiatives, systems, practices, processes and literature, designing communication workshops based on our findings. We networked, created partnerships, we investigated and learnt. We knocked on doors, some doors opened, some remain closed. We became the Secretariat for the Better End of Life Strategy for the LHD. We developed ways of working together and discovered we had a unique team.
What do we do now?
We continue to audit, report, research and teach, network and partner, investigate and learn and knock. Most of all, we embrace the future for our work and end-of-life care, a future where death and dying are considered part of life, where health services strive to provide better end-of-life care for patients and provide supportive after death care for the friends, carers and families of deceased people.
What did we do?
We audited and reported on current practices and processes in end-of-life care across the major acute hospitals in the District. We researched end of life initiatives, systems, practices, processes and literature, designing communication workshops based on our findings. We networked, created partnerships, we investigated and learnt. We knocked on doors, some doors opened, some remain closed. We became the Secretariat for the Better End of Life Strategy for the LHD. We developed ways of working together and discovered we had a unique team.
What do we do now?
We continue to audit, report, research and teach, network and partner, investigate and learn and knock. Most of all, we embrace the future for our work and end-of-life care, a future where death and dying are considered part of life, where health services strive to provide better end-of-life care for patients and provide supportive after death care for the friends, carers and families of deceased people.