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Journal of Palliative Care & Medicine | ISSN: 2165-7386 | Volume 8
August 27-28, 2018 | Boston, USA
4th International Conference on
Palliative Care, Medicine and Hospice Nursing
Through the introduction of palliative care, quality of life has improved and the course of illness has
been positively influenced thus leading to an increase in referrals
Julia Ambler
Umduduzi – Hospice Care for Children, South Africa
Palliative care should be provided from the point of diagnosis and beyond death. However, within the South African context,
palliative care is poorly understood. Many practitioners believe it to be synonymous with the end of life care or ‘giving up’
and are thus reluctant to refer early to the team. Through our work, we have come to realize that this misunderstanding is
common and is not specific to any discipline. In addition to this, palliative care is not a recognized specialty in South Africa
hence there are limited numbers of health professionals trained in palliative care. As they cannot specialize in the field, there
are no government posts. Currently, almost all palliative care services are offered by the not-for-profit / non-governmental
sectors (NPO/NGO). The authors have compiled a retrospective case study analysis of their patient base. They have explored
how presenting palliative care cases to health care professionals at academic meetings has led to increased referrals. Referrals
are also being made earlier in the course of illness. Healthcare professionals, when they have seen the benefits of palliative care,
are more inclined to recognize the need for a palliative care approach and refer earlier. Through their interactions with the
palliative care team, health care professionals have been empowered and are more willing to provide palliative care themselves,
accessing the team for telephonic support. Discussing and presenting such case studies with and to health care professionals
improves referrals and thus improves access to palliative care.
Biography
Julia graduated from University of Cape Town with her MBChB in 1998. She trained and worked as a general practitioner and a children’s hospice doctor at
Helen and Douglas Houses in Oxford, the UK for 6 years. On returning to Durban, she continued her passion for pediatric palliative care and is Deputy Director
of Umduduzi – Hospice Care for Children. Through this NPO she consults in children’s palliative care and trains health professionals and medical students in the
Department of Paediatrics, UKZN.
Julia Ambler, J Palliat Care Med 2018, Volume 8
DOI: 10.4172/2165-7386-C3-020