HIGHLIGHTS
- The review aimed to understand multiple aspects of palliative care services.
- The review included clinical, non-clinical, and peak body inputs and service mapping.
- Service mapping showed workforce availability and gaps in care services.
PROJECT
Service Function Review of Palliative Care Services
The Challenge
Palliative care aims to improve the quality of life of adults, children, and their families who are facing problems associated with life-threatening illness. It prevents and relieves suffering through early identification, correct assessment, and appropriate treatment. Abt was engaged by the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Government to undertake a palliative care service function review in response to a range of recent initiatives and inquiries into palliative and end-of-life care and to inform future commissioning of services in the ACT.
The Approach
The service review employed a comprehensive methodology to map services and identify gaps in unmet needs. Key activities included developing a review framework to define focal areas, conducting key informant interviews, reviewing relevant literature and documents, and performing quantitative data analysis on service utilization, costs, demographics, and workforce. Additionally, the review conducted service mapping via a desktop audit and an online survey of providers. The review also involved stakeholder consultations with 45 individuals from clinical, community, advocacy, and non-government sectors, focusing on unmet needs, barriers to care, and service demand.
The Results
Findings revealed gaps in service capacity, care coordination, and access to after-hours services. The review highlighted the need for a more integrated, multidisciplinary approach to care, particularly in community settings. Key recommendations included enhancing workforce capacity, improving communication among providers, and promoting advance care planning to improve support for patients and families.
Key findings, together with next steps for consideration, are published in the final report, available here: https://www.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/2302464/ACT-Palliative-Care-Service-Function-Review-Report.pdf