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Report condemns lack of palliative services for terminally ill in Newfoundland and Labrador.
St. John's (3 June 2009) - A scathing report has condemned the lack of appropriate palliative care in Newfoundland and Labrador, concluding that thousands of people spend their final days in anguish.
"Throughout Newfoundland and Labrador many of the most vulnerable, terminally ill and those with life limiting illnesses continue to suffer hideously," says a needs assessment report completed last fall for the Dr. H. Bliss Murphy Cancer Centre in St. John's.
CBC News obtained a copy of the report. It had not been publicly released.
"They struggle daily for medications and services such as medical care, home care and nursing care. They struggle through the bureaucratic roller-coaster of endless paperwork for admission to acute care, respite care, palliative care and long-term care facilities … because of the lack of these same basic services in their individual communities."
Written by Fiona Shaw, the report said palliative care is currently a specialized service available to fewer than 10% of all people who die in Newfoundland and Labrador.
It concluded that the lack of services will become more serious as cancer surpasses cardiovascular disease as the leading cause of death in the province.
Shocking but not surprising
Peter Dawe, executive director of the Canadian Cancer Society's provincial division, said the findings were shocking but not surprising.
"The vast majority of our population don't have insurance plans for medications," Dawe told CBC News. "You're talking about the basis of keeping someone comfortable in their own home."
The report recommends spending almost $13.6 million per year for medical care, education and research to expand the offering of palliative care.
"Only then can each member of the public be assured of a peaceful and comfortable death regardless of where they live in Newfoundland and Labrador," it says.
The report recommends that each region of the province have a team available for 24-hour support, and for each region to have facilities with designated palliative care beds.
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