Palliative Care
Patients are generally referred to the Palliative care team by one of the specialist consultants in the hospital. An increasing number of patients with non-malignant chronic conditions and are benefitting greatly from the service.
As part of a multidisciplinary team, the aim of palliative care is to enhance quality of life and wherever possible to positively influence the course of the illness. The focus is on quality of life which includes good symptom control. Patients may be referred to the service at any stage of their illness depending on symptom burden, from diagnosis through active treatment and for end of life care. Palliative Care also extends to families to help them cope with their family member’s illness and their own experience of grief and loss.
Palliative care is an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problems associated with life - threatening illness, through the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification and impeccable assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, physical , psychosocial and spiritual (World Health Organisation 2002).
Our Palliative team
- Consultant in Palliative Medicine
Dr Patricia Sheahan
Appointments
Patients are generally referred to the palliative care team by one of the specialist consultants in the hospital. An increasing number of patients with non-malignant chronic conditions and are benefitting greatly from the service.
Referrals are made for the advice and/or assessment for the following:
- Control of pain
- Control of other symptoms such as breathlessness, fatigue, anorexia or nausea
- Emotional / Psychological support for patients
- Emotional / Psychological support for relatives
- Arranging referrals to specialist community palliative care teams and palliative care units
- Liasing with community care teams including public health nurse and general practitioners
- End of life care
Dr. Patricia Sheahan
Consultant Palliative Care Physician
Biography
Dr Sheahan is a Consultant in Palliative Medicine in the Bon Secours Hospital Tralee. Dr Sheahan was Chairperson of the Ulster Community and Hospital Trust’s Palliative Care co-ordination Group, which developed a Palliative Care Discharge Pathway for patients. Dr Sheahan was also Chairperson of the Medicine Management Group at Marie Curie Centre in Belfast, this group developed clinical guidelines that were integrated with regional guidelines. Dr Sheahan also developed guidelines for pain management and the management of nausea in collaboration with the HIV Pharmacist at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London. Dr Sheahan was involved with the design of a computerised database for referrals to the hospital’s specialist Palliative care team and established guidelines for symptom control for the cancer centre at the Belfast City Hospital.
Dr Sheahan has taught at both Undergraduate and Post graduate level, which includes lecturing on the Marie Curie Diploma and Degree Courses for Palliative and Cancer Care. She has also lectured in Palliative Care to final year Medical Students during their Oncology module. She has participated in numerous Publications and Presentations and took part in a major research study which looked at the ‘Impact of Receiving Quality of Life Information from Palliative Care Patients on their Quality Of Life.
Areas of Interest
Her Specialist Interests include all aspects of Palliative Care. Dr Sheahan has vast experience in dealing with cancer patients and patients suffering with HIV.
