Helping health workers talk death
Victorian hospitals and health care providers will be supported to help staff, patients and families discuss the difficult and emotional health care choices that arise when facing a serious illness, in what has been described as a ‘state first’.
Visiting the Olivia Newton-John Cancer & Wellness Centre in Heidelberg yesterday, Victorian Minister for Health, David Davis, launched Advance care planning: have the conversation: A strategy for Victorian health services 2014-2018.
“Talking about end of life care and the treatment that loved ones want during a serious illness can be a challenging and highly sensitive topic,” Mr Davis said.
“Many avoid the discussion, and often it’s left too late because a loved one becomes too ill to share their wishes about the level of healthcare and quality of life they want.
“That is why we have developed this new strategy to assist health workers discuss this important issue and ensure the wishes of patients are honoured.”
Mr Davis said the strategy provided practical advice and information to help our health workforce work with patients and families to develop an advance care plan.
“Advance care planning is the process whereby patients discuss their values, beliefs and personal care preferences. This then guides clinical decision making in the future when the patient can no longer communicate their wishes,” Mr Davis said.
“By supporting our health services and health workforce to implement advance care planning, we can better support patients and their families at an incredibly difficult time.
“Advance care planning will give your loved ones confidence that their final choices about their health care and treatment will be respected.”
Mr Davis thanked those who shared their expertise and experience in drafting the strategy, in particular Austin Health, which is a teaching public hospital located in Melbourne's north eastern suburb.
“Austin Health is leading the way and has been implementing advance care planning since 2002. In addition, Austin Health has had a lead role at both a state and national level in driving its adoption. Dedicated staff at many of our health services has also helped inform this strategy,” Mr Davis said.
