Promoting collaboration between palliative care (PC) and other specialties through a shared care model according to patients’ needs is one of the strategic directions stated in the Hospital Authority Strategic Service Framework for Palliative Care in 2017. A new Inter-hospital Palliative Care Consultative Service has been established in Kowloon West Cluster since October 2018 under the Framework, aiming to improve PC coverage in acute hospitals, enhance early discharge to community, triage patients with complex needs to Palliative Care Unit (PCU) and to enhance quality of dying for patients who die in place.
Preliminary data analysis included 69 patients served from 2 Oct to 7 Nov 2018. The mean waiting time from referral to PC service was 1 working day, compared to 14 days before the start of the service. The consultative team provided symptom assessment (98.6%), symptom management such as suggestions on medications (56.9%) and opioids (22.2%), psycho-spiritual assessment and support (77.8%), caregivers support including carer stress assessment (98.6%) and management (70.8%). Advance care planning discussion such as discussion on diagnosis and prognosis (98.6%), DNACPR (81.9%) and life sustaining treatment (56.9%) was offered. Among the patients served, 43% was discharged, 35% died in parent ward and 22% was transferred to PCU. Ongoing analysis of the data and evaluation of the consultative service continues to ensure continuous improvement of the service and quality of patient care.
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