WA doctors will soon have access to updated resources to help them negotiate living wills with patients.
Early next month the State Government will launch WA’s revised Advance Health Directive and new advance care planning resources.
The resources are designed to empower Western Australians to make choices about their future health and personal care, and include documents aimed at consumers as well as health professionals.
It follows the update to the Guardianship and Administration Amendment Regulations 2022 to incorporate the revised Advance Health Directive. The Department of Justice drafted the amended regulations in conjunction with the Advance Care Planning Project team.
A new consumer guide is being translated into 15 languages and will be available in the second half of this year.
Palliative care in aged care
The advance care planning project is also working with key stakeholders to develop comprehensive palliative care in residential aged care.
The National Partnership Agreement (NPA) is working to improve end of life and palliative care provided to residential aged care facility residents, their families and carers at a state and national level.
It follows consultation with the sector, namely the WA NPA Collaborative Forum and a GP consultation event co-hosted with the WA Primary Health Alliance.
The End of Life Care Program has also endorsed funding to the Cancer Council WA, through the Palliative and Supportive Care Education program, to support scholarships for health professionals. The scholarships will allow them to undertake postgraduate education as well as leadership and management training in palliative care.
New voluntary assisted dying resources
The ‘Voluntary Assisted Dying: Essential information for health professionals’ eLearning resource is also now available on the Department of Health website. It provides an overview of the voluntary assisted dying process, including the obligations of medical practitioners, and information about available supports and resources.
At home care
And in another development in the end of life space, the Perron Institute is holding a symposium called ‘Compassionate Communities – Reframing Palliative Care’ on August 2 at the Harry Perkins Institute in Nedlands.
With 95% of care provided at end of life being informal care and only 5% provided by formal services, there is growing global interest in adopting the compassionate communities approach to support people with a life-limiting illness or chronic disease.
The symposium will include an address by Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson, and international and local experts including Prof Samar Aoun, Perron Institute Research Chair in Palliative Care at UWA, who will give presentations in person and online.
+ For more information read the program or contact events@perron.uwa.edu.au. Book your free ticket at Eventbrite.