| Palliative Care outcome: Member states have to rethink their strategies |
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Brussels, 17 November 2010 Palliative Care Outcome: Member states have to rethink their strategies The FACE Workshop "Palliative care: FACING THE END TOGETHER WITH DIGNITY" took place in the European Parliament on 16 November 2010 and it created a great momentum among participants agreeing that improvement of palliative care outcome is needed in the European Union. MEP Gay Mitchell was the host of the event and he was supported by ECPC president Tom Hudson as co host. The workshop came up with numerous top class speakers representing all relevant stakeholders like the European Parliament, the Commission, researchers, physicians, nurses and of course patients. There is no cure for mortality Prof. Jose Martin-Moreno, representing the World Health Organisation, recalled the inconvenient truth that everyone of us has to face the end one day. He highlighted that palliative care is about a strong connection between patient, family and the care team that enables us to meet death with dignity. European Commission’s commitment to palliative care Dr Maria Vidal of DG Research stressed that one of the main objectives of Health research in the 7th framework programme is to develop patient-oriented strategies from prevention to diagnosis with particular emphasis on treatment, including clinical research and the use of active ingredients. Dr Vidal ensured that aspects of palliative medicine will be taken into account regarding those strategies. Include palliative care in European health and social care policies Prof. Sheila Payne from International Observatory on End of Life Care at Lancaster University urged that the social ‘space’ has to created that enables difficult conversations to be had in all European countries. The focus should not just be on the individual but on the relationships that sustain or harm the dying person and that is why we need education and training for the workforce, at all levels, especially during basic professional qualifications. According to Prof Payne the best way to fulfil those need would be the inclusion of palliative care in European health and social care policies. Big cultural differences between Member States Prof. Lukas Radbruch, President of the European Association for Palliative Care, emphasized the cultural differences between European countries and the influence of these differences on palliative care in Europe and abroad. Prof Radbruch explained for example the difficulties for nurses from different cultural backgrounds to understand if the patient is in pain or not. In some cultures pain is associated with loud crying, in others pain is endured silently. Importance of proper integration of palliative care Prof. Jan Stjernsward representing the WHO Collaborating Center for Palliative Care Public Health Programs pointed out that putting patients at the center, bringing their voice to the forefront and putting palliative care back on the political agenda are the main objectives for the future of palliative care in Europe. Prof Stjernberg also postulated that the incurable patients should be offered a choice of Palliative Care already at the time of the diagnosis. Conclusion: Tackle the problem on the European level Host Gay Mitchell finally expressed his hope that Member States would agree on the need to set palliative guidelines and benchmarks on the European level, like for example in the environmental area, as healthcare is not included in the treaties. ECPC president Tom Hudson concluded the workshop by ensuring that the European Cancer Patient Coalition is eager to deepen the dialogue concerning palliative care between all the stakeholders and by doing so to improve the situation of patients all over Europe. The Fight Against Cancer continues The next ECPC event will be organised in cooperation with the Health and the environment Alliance (HEAL) in the European Parliament on November 29. There will be a premier European film screening of “Living Downstream. A personal exploration of cancer and our environment” followed by seminar on “Bringing science to policy”. About FACE The "Forum Against Cancer Europe" has been set up by the cancer patient community through ECPC and MEPs to continue the successful work the European cancer patient community with European Parliamentarians. It aims to learn about, debate and form policies geared towards cancer patients across cancers, regions and political parties. The work of FACE will consist of monitoring and supporting the work of the European Union in its fight against cancer.. FACE today is supported by 80 MEPs as "FACE Champions". Find more information on FACE at http://www.forumagainstcancer.eu. For further information please contact:Denis Horgan Danuta Rydlewska |
