The aim of the week was to enable further understanding of the operational issues around palliative care service delivery as well as focusing on symptom control issues.
All the medical doctors are actively involved in the development of palliative care services in Serbia. Dr Silvija Vukić is the director of a general home care service in Belgrade and is developing palliative care service within the home care team. This will be done by identifying palliative care patients and having a palliative care register as well as developing specific palliative care teams of doctors and nurses within the home care service.
Dr Vladan Milošević is leading a newly established palliative care unit in Cuprija. The unit has 9 beds and opened in December 2013. Dr Dragan Stamenkovic is leading the newly established palliative care unit in Leskovac which has 10 beds and was opened in September 2013.
The placement consisted of shadowing medical staff on ward rounds and during home care visits, and taking part in multidisciplinary meetings and case discussions. The programme also gave the group the opportunity to review policies and procedures that are in place at the hospice.
The visit enabled the group to deepen their understanding of operational issues related to palliative care services and was a vital part of their overall education programme. The funded project will finish in November 2014, by then it is planned that 15 Palliative Care Units will be established across Serbia.
To find out more, contact Dr Erna Haraldsdottir, Project Key Expert, Development of Palliative Care in Serbia.
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