An article from Media Watch, compiled and annotated by Barry R. Ashpole (Ontario, Canada). More reports can be found at IPCRC.NET
SINGAPORE | AsiaOne – 25 June 2015 – Home hospice care is the type of end-of-life care that most people hope for. But it will be a struggle to sustain this type of care if the manpower crunch keeps up, palliative care doctors cautioned. “If there are fewer medical and nursing resources available to support 24/7 services, and the burnout and turnover rate are higher in the home care setting, this type of care will be difficult to sustain…” said Dr. Ong Yew Jin, medical director of Singapore Cancer Society. There are 51 accredited specialists in palliative medicine in Singapore, but only an estimated 34 of them work full-time. This works out to less than one full-time palliative consultant per 100,000 people – less than half the ratio recommended by Palliative Care Australia, added Dr. Ong. Adding to the strain is the distribution of resources, he pointed out.” Most (palliative care nurses and doctors) are based in the hospitals or inpatient facilities…read more”