The RBWH Palliative Care team
Recently, the RBWH Palliative and Support Care Services celebrated 15 years since the formal commencement of the service. The celebration coincides with Associate Professor Carol Douglas celebrating 15 years as Director of Palliative and Supportive Care.
Since the service began, it has grown, adapted and managed an extraordinary increase in annual referrals. The multidisciplinary team works with patients and families at one of the most vulnerable times in their lives, supporting them physically, emotionally and spiritually.
Join us as we reflect on the past 15 years of the service.
Pre-2006: Prior to the commencement of the RBWH Service, palliative care at the hospital was managed by TPCH Palliative Care service and supported by Specialists Palliative Medicine TPCH.
2006: At the commencement of the RBWH service there were approximately 200 referrals a year to the service with a complement of staff specialists. The service joined the Internal Medicine Service with a vision to “provide care based on need and not diagnosis”.
2008: Thanks to a significant funding boost, more than 750 referrals were being received by the service annually.
2010: The service was acknowledged for the development and implementation of the endorsed Statewide ‘Care Plan for the Dying Person’, a tool that continues to support best care of the dying person, and is embedded in the majority of HHS acute hospital clinical processes.
2015: A SEED project led to the funding of the 7-day service with an increase in FTE for clinical nurses. This resulted in patients and families receiving care over the weekend also.
2019: The service was receiving approximately 1100 referrals a year. Outpatient clinics have expanded significantly. Kidney Supportive Care and Hepatocare services have been funded to support end stage patients within collaborative services.
2021: The tight-knit multidisciplinary team continues to provide exceptional care to patients and families at the end of life, when they need it most.
Thank you to the Palliative Care team for their ongoing hard work and dedication to our patients!