Brisbane North PHN - Greater Choice for At Home Palliative Care measure.

A blog post written by Caroline Irle

Brisbane North PHN are pleased to be part of the Department of Health’s Greater Choice for At Home Palliative Care measure. The measure aims to improve access to at home palliative care to enable the right care at the right time and allow people to receive care and die in a setting of their choice.

After conducting a needs analysis, the PHN is now in the process of implementing its first activities. In 2022/23, Brisbane North PHN will have two focus areas: the Brisbane North Community Palliative Care Collaborative and Palliative Care in Community Pharmacy.

Brisbane North Community Palliative Care Collaborative

In the Brisbane North region, the most commonly cited issue in palliative care is the siloing of services and poor communication between providers. The Brisbane North Community Palliative Care Collaborative (BNCPCC), an existing group of palliative care stakeholders facilitated by the PHN, identified the potential to improve this situation by increasing engagement within the group. The PHN will work with members to strengthen the BNCPCC by facilitating information sharing through regular meetings and working together on collaborative projects.

The BNCPCC have nominated three projects in which to focus in 2021/22:

• Improve access to at home palliative care for people with a disability through sector engagement and development of a joint action plan.
• Provide opportunities for healthcare workers to improve soft skills such as listening and engagement through tender conversations.
• Improve awareness and access to palliative care services and supports by hosting an event to share current palliative care initiatives and information for the region.

All collaborative projects address current needs identified in the region.

Palliative Care in Community Pharmacy

Timely access to medication in the community is a major enabler of at-home palliative care. Currently, 19% Brisbane North community pharmacies have signed a letter of intent to stock core palliative care medications. Without access in the community, people with life-limiting illness may be hospitalised for medication-related needs, reducing their choice of setting for care and death.

Stakeholder feedback suggests community pharmacists are highly trusted and frequent contacts for consumers but are overlooked as part of the palliative care team. Our, consultations with pharmacist in March 2022 agreed with this feedback. Studies have shown better patient and carer experience of care and better use of health resources when community pharmacists are involved in the care team. The recent consultation confirmed community pharmacists are keen for upskilling and support in palliative care.

Brisbane North PHN will commission the co-design of a strategy to increase capacity and capability of community pharmacists in supporting safe, quality palliative care. It is intended this plan will commence implementation in late 2022.

If you would like more information, please contact me on caroline.irle@brisbanenorthphn.org.au.

Brisbane North PHN is one of thirty-one Primary Health Networks (PHNs), independent organisations working to streamline health services and improve care coordination, so people receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time. PHNs are an initiative for the Australian Government Department of Health. All PHNs are participating in the Greater Choice for At Home Palliative Care measure from July 2021- June 2025.

This activity is supported by funding from the Australian Government through the PHN Program.

Caroline Irle
Project Lead - Healthy Ageing
Brisbane North PHN

References:

Hussainy SY, Box M, Scholes S. Piloting the role of a pharmacist in a community palliative care multidisciplinary team: an Australian experience. BMC Palliat Care. 2011 Oct 31;10:16. doi: 10.1186/1472-684X-10-16. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22035160/

O'Connor M, Fisher C, French L, Halkett G, Jiwa M, Hughes J. Exploring the community pharmacist's role in palliative care: focusing on the person not just the prescription. Patient Educ Couns. 2011 Jun;83(3):458-64. doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2011.04.037. Epub 2011 May 31. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21621942/

Jiwa, M.; O’Connor, M., Hughes, J., Fisher, C., Mullan, J., Girgis, A., Davidson, P., Wilkinson, A., Halkett, G. (2010) The role of the pharmacist in the provision of palliative care. 4CPA Research & Development Program. Published by Pharmacy Guild of Australia and Australian Government Department of Health.