Cancer Care N.S. Hosts Palliative-Care

CANCER CARE N.S.--Cancer Care N.S. Hosts Palliative-Care Roundtable

A Palliative-Care Roundtable, hosted by Cancer Care Nova Scotia, will explore strategies for strengthening palliative-care services throughout the province.

About 165 nurses, doctors, patients, other health professionals, survivors, family members and volunteers from across Nova Scotia will gather on Tuesday, June 5, at the Harbourview Holiday Inn in Dartmouth. They will discuss strategies for better integration of palliative-care services into the care of cancer patients.

"Cancer imposes a heavy burden on Nova Scotians and palliative care is an essential component of a high quality cancer care program," said Dr. Andrew Padmos, commissioner for Cancer Care Nova Scotia. "Since palliative care includes symptom control, supportive care and end-of-life care, every patient and family will benefit from palliative care programs.

"Much progress has been made by pioneering efforts of many palliative care volunteers and professionals, but not all Nova Scotians can currently access these services," he said. "This roundtable will build on existing palliative-care services and address identified gaps and deficiencies. By working together, we will ensure that patients and families have access to the best possible cancer care."

The outcome from the roundtable will be a strategic action plan that will address six key areas:

• education for patients, families and health professionals;

• patient referral;

• co-ordination among health districts;

• access to services;

• inter-disciplinary collaboration;

• volunteer development.

"A high-quality program strives to address the entire needs of patients and families as they deal with cancer," said Judy Simpson, president of the Hospice Palliative Care Association of Nova Scotia.

This roundtable will set the stage for comprehensive action on all aspects of palliative care: pain and symptom management; education for health professionals, patients and family members; and bereavement support.

"While as many as 85 per cent of current palliative care patients are people who are living with cancer, there are still a number of cancer patients that would benefit from easy access to palliative care services," Ms. Simpson said.

Cancer Care Nova Scotia, through district cancer programs and partnerships with various groups and organizations, is seeking ways to ensure cancer patients and their families experience the best possible outcomes from cancer services anywhere in the province.

Cancer Care Nova Scotia is a program of the Department of Health, with a mandate to co-ordinate, evaluate and strengthen the cancer system in Nova Scotia.

It works with stakeholders in the health care system to bring about patient-centred change. Its goal is to reduce the burden of cancer on individuals, families, communities and the Nova Scotia health care system.