Summary
- More than 80 people have been able to return to their communities to die on country in the past year as Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service expands its palliative care service.
- The culturally focused and safe Pop-Up Palliative Care (PUPs) team supports terminally ill Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their families from across the Torres Strait, Northern Peninsula Area and Cape York who wish to return home to pass away on country.
More than 80 people have been able to return to their communities to die on country in the past year as Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service expands its palliative care service.
The culturally focused and safe Pop-Up Palliative Care (PUPs) team supports terminally ill Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their families from across the Torres Strait, Northern Peninsula Area and Cape York who wish to return home to pass away on country.
During the past financial year, they supported 84 people to return home, of which 55 have been able to pass on country.
Others continue to be supported in the community.
This was a significant increase on the previous 12 months where 41 patients were able to return home.
PUPs team leader and Clinical Nurse Consultant Charlene McCall said their team had expanded to nine staff which included nurses, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers, allied health and administration staff.
They work with patients wishing to return home and their families to ensure their homes were fitted out appropriately with necessary supports to allow their homecoming.
“We know how much difference going home can make to an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person in the final stages of their life,” she said.
“Late last year we had a patient urgently referred to our team from Townsville Hospital who wanted to return home to Cape York to feel the water near his community and cast a fishing line, just as he had done in his younger days.
“Being back on Country, among family and friends and the sights and sounds he cherished gave him peace in a way no medical treatment could, and incredibly he lived seven months longer than expected.
“He had the chance to find healing in the connection to his community, culture and memories and share stories with younger members of the community.
“It is these types of cases that show how important this service is to our communities and gives people the chance to live the final chapter of lives with dignity and belonging.”
Along with expanding their team to support more patients, TCHHS will also now utilise a designated storage area in Cairns for equipment patients may need when returning to their communities.
This includes beds, wheelchairs and other comfort care products.
TCHHS Executive Director Allied Health Amanda Wilson said having immediate access to equipment will allow patients to return home faster.
“Rather than needing to order equipment for each referral the PUPs team, which includes an occupational therapist, will be able to identify what is required and send it directly to the community,” she said.
“We understand time can be of the essence for many of our patients so this will be a fantastic way to expedite their return home.
“We are also considering ways to enhance our bereavement services and will be consulting closely with communities to ensure a culturally safe service, which is respectful of cultural protocols in each community.”