Palliative Care is everyone’s business, says Cork consultant

At its heart, palliative care is about improving quality of life though focusing on each person as an individual, recognising their unique needs, and helping them navigate their illness journey, by fostering an approach that takes into account the person’s wishes and priorities.

As Palliative Care Week dawns in Cork, it serves as a reminder to all of us of its importance in so many of our lives. This September also marks the celebration of 154 years of Marymount Hospice.

Reflecting across the country on this year’s theme for 2024, ‘You, Me and Palliative Care’, helping people to understand the true breadth of palliative care is paramount, so that anyone who may benefit feels empowered to engage in important conversations about their health and preferences.

Although so many people in Cork have experience of palliative care, either from their own illness or through supporting loved ones, there can be resistance to palliative care involvement, due to many misconceptions that still exist.

Palliative care may help you in facing serious, chronic or progressive illness. It is not just for those who have cancer, but is applicable for many advanced illnesses, including organ failure, neurological and respiratory diseases, frailty, and many more conditions.

It is relevant at any stage of your illness. It is not just care at the end of life. Contrary to what many believe to be true, integrating early in serious illness can help us to better ensure care is compassionate and in line with one’s goals, and does not shorten their life. Although we care for many patients in their dying phase, the focus is on living, and living well.

Palliative Care is not about giving up. It does not represent the end of treatment with other healthcare teams. We maintain open communication with colleagues, with whom we jointly deliver care. In this way, tailor made care plans can be reviewed and updated as needs evolve over time.

It is for those of all ages. Palliative care involvement can enhance quality of care whatever age you are. Our care extends across the spectrum of ages and can include individualised care of younger people including children and adolescents.

It is not just for pain. We address all burdens that patients face, which may present in the forms of physical symptoms, but also help alleviate psychological distress, assist with practical matters, and future care planning.

It can be delivered wherever you are. Palliative care is not only represented in the form of hospice care, and is not limited to patients within the walls of the buildings. We reach patients in different settings, including patient’s homes, care facilities, outpatient clinics, and hospitals. Within the hospital we meet patients across all wards. Our input can sometimes help people avoid repeated hospital admission.

In Cork, the palliative care team consists of professionals from many disciplines, whose combined expertise addresses patient’s varied palliative care needs. The team’s holistic approach, and continuous dialogue with colleagues ensures that people can live a full life, for as long as that may be.

Taking this integrated approach, and considering the patient as a person not just their illness, we can provide care that is dignified and compassionate. Through dynamic and flexible team work, we strive to meet people where they are at, physically, and also when ready.

People who have had experience of palliative care often comment that whilst they were reluctant at first, reflecting back they wish they had accepted input sooner.

The Palliative Care service in Cork, with its base in Marymount Hospice, extends care to people across the city and county, through inpatient care, home visits and virtual support for those in their place of dwelling including residential care facilities.

We collaboratively work with Primary Care teams so that we can offer the best care plans to patients, aligned with their preferences.

We work very closely with city-based hospital and general hospital partners across Cork, coordinating care of those in acute settings.

Marymount houses forty-four hospice inpatient beds for inpatient care for those who have more complex needs. Hospice care is not synonymous with just end of life care, but some are admitted for care towards the end of their lives.

Families of those who die in hospice are offered ongoing support including after their loved one’s death.

We offer an ambulatory service to those who can attend in person and patients are met by the team members most expert to meet their needs at that time.

In the last year, our community team became involved in the care of over 1,200 new patients in Cork. At any one time we may be inputting in the care of 400-500 community-based patients across the city and county. We cared for many more as inpatients in the hospice and hospital settings.

Palliative Care Week serves as a reminder that palliative care is everybody’s business.

Despite having similar illnesses, even those at the same stage of illness, and with similar medical and social backgrounds, your illness experience will be wholly individual to you. Prioritising conversations in the face of ill health can ensure what matters to you most is heard so that you and your loved ones receive the best care for you, at the right time, by the people best placed to meet your needs.

Palliative Care Week runs from September 8 to 14. For further information see www.thepalliativehub.com