City hospital named best in UK for end of life care
A GLASGOW hospital has been hailed the best in the UK for the care it provides patients who are nearing the end of life.
The Specialist Palliative Care Team at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) have been named the first recipients of the Dundas medal, which recognises excellence in end of life care.
The medal was launched in April last year in honour of Dr Charles Robert Dundas, a consultant anaesthetist at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary who “dedicated his life to his patients” and died of cancer in 2014.
Experts say holistic care including pain and symptom control as well as clear communication with patients and families, is crucial for those with life limiting conditions and especially at the end of life.
The award is run jointly by the Scottish charity PATCH (Palliation and The Caring Hospital) and The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh who said the had received “impressive submissions” from all over the UK.
Alistair McKeown, Consultant in Palliative Medicine at the QEUH, said: “Our team helps patients and families across all wards in QEUH, not just at end of life, but also in optimising quality of life over days, weeks, months and years, irrespective of diagnosis.”
Professor Mike Lavelle-Jones, President of the Royal College of Surgeons, said: “Good palliative care covers many different areas, not least effective pain and symptom control, and effective communication with patients and families.
“To be able to provide respect, dignity and comfort to a patient in palliative care is an enormous gift.
“This award honours the work the Hospital Specialist Palliative Care Team at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Glasgow has achieved and we thank them for all the work that they do in this area.”