Q&A’s Tony Jones to explore the ‘ignored issue’ of palliative care

29 April 2014
Brisbane doctors will examine the often “ignored issue” of palliative care at a special Q&A forum to be moderated by ABC TV’s Tony Jones and hosted by The Wesley Hospital and St Andrew’s War Memorial Hospital on 17 May.

Hundreds of GPs and medical specialists will explore the sensitive ethical and medical questions involved in treating the terminally ill, at the UnitingCare Health event to be held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Dr Luis Prado, Chief Medical Officer for UnitingCare Health and Director of Medical Services at The Wesley Hospital, said caring for the dying needed more discussion.

"Almost daily, we hear about innovative ways of diagnosing and treating life-threatening diseases like cancer. At the one end of the spectrum there is all this innovation, and money for research into finding cures, but there is a vacuum of interest in palliative care.

"Inevitably, everyone dies, but there is an imbalance in terms of support for, and interest in, palliative care, yet many patients will ultimately need palliative care,” Dr Prado said. “This is why The Wesley Hospital, which is a leading provider of oncology services, also has a Palliative Care Service and places a great deal of emphasis on this care.”

Key topics for discussion at the Q&A include the medical ethics of palliative care, ethical dilemmas in oncology, management of end-of-life treatments, and public versus private healthcare.

The Q&A expert panel will be chaired by Dr Christian Rowan, Deputy Chief Medical Officer for UnitingCare Health and Director of Medical Services at St Andrew’s War Memorial Hospital.

Dr Rowan said he welcomed the opportunity to discuss this important subject with GPs and specialists: "The benefits of multidisciplinary care, the spiritual needs of patients and pain management are all important facets of palliative care and these will be in the spotlight at the Q&A.”

Other members of the panel are:

  • Dr Luis Prado - Chief Medical Officer, UnitingCare Health; Director of Medical Services, The Wesley Hospital
  • Reverend Helen Dick - Director of Mission, UnitingCare Health
  • Associate Professor Greg Scalia – Cardiologist, Heartcare Partners
  • Mrs Cheryle Royle - General Manager, St Vincent’s Private Hospital
  • Associate Professor Deborah Parker – Director, UQ/Blue Care Research & Practice Development Centre
  • Dr Ralph McConaghy – Director, Palliative Care Service, The Wesley Hospital
  • Dr Richard Kidd - General Practitioner
  • Dr David Schlect - Radiation Oncologist, The Wesley Hospital.

Date: Saturday17 May 2014

Venue: Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, South Brisbane

Time: 5.30pm-9.30pm

Cost:
Full delegate (CPD day program and Q&A dinner, 9:00am-9:15pm): $120 per person.
Includes conference registration and notes, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea, and Q&A dinner with Tony Jones. CPD Category One (40 points).

Q&A dinner with Tony Jones (evening program only, 5:30pm-9:15pm): $90 per person, partners welcome.

To book, or for more information, please call Vicki Goss: 0419 020 156

Media Enquiries
General: media@ucareqld.com.au
Urgent or after hours: 0437 344 216


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