Gladstone: Palliative Care & VAD – Changes, Choices, and Challenges

We warmly invite you to attend the CCQ Clinical Society event in Gladstone, in June on the topic:

'Palliative Care and Voluntary Assisted Dying - Changes, Choices, and Challenges'.

This event is CPD accredited, with RACGP & ACRRM points for GPs.

Palliative care related hospitalisations in the CCQ region are amongst the highest in Queensland. The CCQ area is experiencing higher than average population growth and an increasingly ageing population. CCQ also covers a large geographical area with a diverse socioeconomic background including rural and remote areas and many people from a socioeconomically disadvantaged background. As a result strengthening access to community based palliative care supports is key to addressing ongoing increasing community need.

This clinical society aims to strengthen how local GPs and community healthcare teams can navigate end-of-life care and Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD), such that they are inspired to make practical improvements in the context of their local care system. Ultimately this aims to better support people, their families and communities to have the best quality of life possible, a good death and provide support for bereavement.

The event will follow a format designed to enhance collaboration among local healthcare professionals and services. With case-based discussion and a question and discussion section of the event aiming to enhance understanding of how the local palliative care system is functioning and opportunities for improvement.

This is a catered event including dinner. Please register to inform us of any dietary requirements.

Learning Objectives:

· Provide an overview of palliative care and voluntary assisted dying with an emphasis on CCQ Priority Populations

· Review high-quality care across the expected trajectory of life, illness and end-of-life

· Provide an information overview of Voluntary assisted dying (VAD) for general practice teams

· Explore ongoing professional development opportunities

The agenda for the evening will include:

· The community palliative care needs and challenges

· Guest Speakers covering best-practice palliative care and voluntary assisted dying

· Case-based discussion involving local expert panel members

· Question and discussion with a focus on the local palliative care system

· Networking with other health professionals and palliative care experts

Guest Presenters:

Lesley McLeod, Nurse Practitioner, QVAD

Dr Deidre Stark, QVAD

Case Based Discussion Panel Members: To be confirmed! Palliative care and voluntary assisted dying clinicians with a focus on local subject matter experts.

Check out our video below with Dr Amy Langford-Ely, one of our CCQ GP Medical Educators.

Country to Coast Queensland’s Clinical Societies build our healthcare neighbourhood in the region. (youtube.com)