Janet Finch-Saunders AM has today chaired a seminar hosted by Policy Forum Wales on the next steps to be taken in end of life and palliative care.
Speakers at the seminar came from a diverse background of specialities and included Marie Curie Cancer Care; the General Medical Council; Cardiff and Vale University Health Board; the Royal College of Nurses; Alzheimer’s Society and; Ty Hafan. The keynote speaker of the conference was Professor the Baroness Finlay of Llandaff who discussed her recent work on unscheduled care.
Speaking following the event, the Assembly Member said: "I have been struck by some of the recurrent themes that have emerged today. Participants were unanimous in their view that we need integrated care that reflects the concerns of patients and delivery of person-centred services specific to their needs.
"Education and training are vital. Not just for palliative care specialists, but as a matter of course for all health professionals to develop an understanding of the support needs of patients in receipt of end of life care. Patients and their families need to be secure in the knowledge that the person providing their care is fully qualified to do so.
"The importance of integrated care across multidisciplinary teams has also been a major issue at the forum. Many raised concerns that agencies are not working together closely enough, which can lead to patients not receiving appropriate care. Too often patients are kept in hospitals when they could, and should, be at home. A lack of joined up working not only creates negative outcomes for patients, it presents a further drain on NHS and local authority resources.
"Person-centred care, combined with seamless multidisciplinary working, can allow a person to end their life with dignity in an environment where they feel safe. In her keynote address Professor the Baroness Finlay highlighted that patients have a right to give their opinion on the type of service they receive enshrined in law. Services must not be averse to innovation in service delivery and to listening to patient’s views. Professionals should see the person within the patient."
"Another pertinent issue was the need to deliver appropriate palliative and end of life care for children and young people, which reflects their often differing needs with those of adults.
"The event was a wonderful opportunity to discuss current practice in end of life and palliative care, but also, to explore where best practice has highlighted the type of service that can be delivered to patients across Wales."