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"Care for palliative care elderly patient"

About: Royal Perth Hospital / End of Life (Palliative) Care

(as a relative),

My elderly parent who has recently been diagnosed with a pancreatic tumour is unwell and struggling to cope. 

A recent admission to RPH helped initially however we are now trying to navigate an increasingly difficult and confusing system. 

Conflicting advice and lack of support for a person at the end of their life is unacceptable in my opinion.  

We have found; slow to be diagnosed, slow to be admitted and poor communication 

We’ve found poor education for care givers with conflicting advice 

We just don’t know who to call for help 

And where ever we go there we’ve found are road blocks and delays and confusion. 

Example: 

On discharge having recently started on insulin 

No insulin was included in the discharge medication  

We found advice from two nurses was very different 

No apparent capacity to call for assistance and no one able to provide the education required. 

Long wait for palliative care doctor. First appointment with palliative care physician is soon but parent not coping  

Called ambulance but advised there would be an eleven hour wait 

As my parent already frail and unwell would not cope with. 

Despite happy to pay for help none in Perth seems interested. 

We are from Broome, indigenous with no one seemingly prepared to assist us 

Not good enough in my opinion 

We just need to get back to Broome so my parent can die in peace with care and compassion We were just wanting a plan to hopefully get them back to Broome with some level of care for their symptoms but unable to get any help from anyone 

No apparent team approach or care. Appears to be no considered organised approach to my parent’s end of life care 

Staff unable to communicate effectively with a frail deaf person 

As an indigenous person crying out for help am hoping someone out there will listen and provide some semblance of interest 

Please help 

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Responses

Response from Lesley Bennett, Chief Executive, East Metropolitan Health Service about a year and a half ago
Lesley Bennett
Chief Executive,
East Metropolitan Health Service
Submitted on 21/11/2022 at 10:30 AM
Published on Care Opinion at 10:31 AM


picture of Lesley Bennett

Dear columbakg89,

It was deeply upsetting to read of your struggle to gain support and clarity surrounding the end of life care needed for your elderly parent. Caring for a loved one requires great emotional and physical strength and it was incredibly disheartening to learn that you do not feel supported by the Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) at Royal Perth Hospital. This is not the level of family-centred care we aim to provide from the Royal Perth Bentley Group and I would like to sincerely apologise for your experience.

The Palliative Care Service works collaboratively with the MDT, aiming to provide the best possible quality of life to people living with life-limiting or terminal illness. Navigating your way through the hospital system can be an overwhelming experience and the Palliative Care team are there to provide compassionate care and support to you and your parent during the end stages of their life. The Head of Department for Palliative Care has conveyed his deepest sympathies for the unnecessary stress and frustration you are currently experiencing.

I am hopeful that by highlighting your story on Care Opinion you feel empowered to contact the Consumer Engagement Unit on (08) 9224 1637, 8am to 4pm or email RPBG.feedback@health.wa.gov.au, so they may assist you and your family work through the concerns you have raised.

Thank you for sharing your story on Care Opinion, I sincerely hope you receive the support you and your family are seeking.

Kind regards,

Dr Lesley Bennett

Executive Director

Royal Perth Bentley Group

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