Thanks for sharing your situation Isabel. It’s evident that your team cares deeply about the well-being of the infants and children you treat, but sadly that there’s a gap in palliative care in the acute setting which I think quite honestly is where there is a big gap in many facilities around SA.
The pressure of a high patient load can indeed make it challenging to prioritize palliative care, especially when there’s a focus on saving lives and not end-of-life care. It’s completely understandable that without adequate training and support in palliative care, it can feel overwhelming and difficult to know how best to approach these situations.
The desire to establish a palliative care team is a positive step forward. Having dedicated resources and expertise in this area can greatly improve the quality of care provided to children and their families during such challenging times. It’s clear that you’re committed to providing the best possible care to your patients and their families, and I hope that with time and support, your department can establish a palliative care program that meets the needs of everyone involved.