Welcome to Cuisle Beatha 2011 Galway University Hospitals
3rd International Palliative Medicine Conference
Radisson Blu, Galway.
The Philosophy of our Palliative Medicine/Care service is; that by helping patients to live both pain and symptom free and with good subjective quality of life; we empower them to live as whole and independent a life as possible; maintaining and enhancing rich relationships and good quality of life despite adversity; by living well with maximum supportive care, our experience is that patients die with peace of mind surrounded with serenity and dignity.
Download conference brochure and programme here
The 3rd International Cuisle Beatha 2011
This years programme is divided into three parts that we have composed to follow a progression from the first and second international programmes outlined below.
Part I
The programme is a full day devoted to the exploration of cancer pain versus chronic non-malignant pain - the speakers we have chosen are all international speakers in their fields and we hope to explore ‘pain' from the initial insult of injury to the body, up to the brain and the expression of pain as messengers of pain alter brain function, spinal function and descend in spinal pathways to produce the perception of ‘pain' within the individual.
We propose to debate the differences in cancer pain and chronic non-malignant pain and raise questions that may alter both research and treatment options for both types of pain. As palliative medicine is still a relatively new speciality, most pioneering specialists have concentrated on service delivery, maybe now we have reached a crossroads in cancer pain research, one road leading to the development of cancer pain research as a separate entity to all other types of pain. Dr. David Finn, Professor Irene Tracy, Professor Anthony Dickenson, Dr. Anthony Byrne, Dr. John Browne, Dr. Mary Devins and Dr. Dympna Waldron will together combine to explore pain pathways, brain alteration, the expression of cancer and chronic pain and look to the definitions of cancer pain and chronic pain. Is the definition of ‘pain' universal or are there fundamental differences in ‘cancer pain' versus ‘chronic non-malignant pain' that require reconceptualization? All individuals have a human right to pain relief and the ethics of this right is addressed by Dr. Frank Brennan. There are complications to all medical interventions and the issue of addiction needs to be explored as a side effect of a medical intervention; this side effect deserves attention both on minimizing the risks of addiction up front and ongoing monitoring to intervene if dependence is noticed throughout the trajectory of pain management. Dr. Mike Scully will explore these important aspects of insuring safety while maintaining the human right to pain relief.
Part II
This part of the conference is devoted to the development of ‘sub speciality' areas in Palliative Medicine. Ms Geraldine Keane Campbell will launch a novel ‘Constipation Information' leaflet. Dr. Fiona Kiely will discuss the evolving involvement of General Practitioners in Palliative Care delivery. Ms. Morna O'Hanlon will explore the view of Palliative Care that hospital consultants perceive and Ms. Deirdre Hickson and Ms. Helen Ely will explore the role of nurse prescriber in both the hospital and the community. Dr. Frank Brennan will explore his experience in Australia of setting up a new sub speciality of Palliative Medicine namely the care of patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD).
Part III
This day of the conference comprises an 'Open Day' for the General Public and Health Professional. By exploring the historic development of palliative care service; where our services have reached to this day; where we aspire to develop into the future; we hope to allay the myths of Palliative Care. A session will also be devoted to an expert committee exploring questions posed by the general public. We sincerely hope by holding this ‘Open Day' we can dissipate the ‘fears' of Palliative Care that remain to this day around the ‘belief' that Palliative Care is consumed with the ‘Dying Phase'; yet our belief and our experience is that our role remains, and we are committed to it, to help our patients to live well despite advanced disease and focus on improving a person's physical reality and address relevant quality of life issues.
Mise le Meas,
Dr. Dympna Waldron.
The 1st International Cuisle Beatha programme, 2007
Integration between Palliative Medicine/Care and all other specialities is the core of our working day. This integration, we believe, effects the best quality of life for patients who live with advanced disease. Interventions may need to take place in the acute hospital setting; the aim being to allow patients live well at home with maximum independence.
The 2nd International Cuisle Beatha programme, 2009
We adhered to what we consider the seven main areas that require debate/discussion at our conference: Learning from research - without research we cannot effect the optimal symptom control for our patients. Learning from learning - we are all educators therefore can we learn from those who specialise in teaching? Learning to cope - coping is integral to enhancing patient's quality of life. Learning to change - with the evolution of palliative care change is inevitable. Learning from others - with more patients referred early in the trajectory of cancer treatment and with non malignant conditions - we have a lot to learn from other specialities. Learning to diagnose dying - in helping people to live well with advanced disease, are we diagnosing dying appropriately to enable patients also to die well? Learning to care for the carer - the delivery of good palliative care is greatly enabled by an empathetic relationship with our patients; how can we maintain this empathy without adverse affects on our own wellbeing.
Who Should Attend
On Friday October 14th, the programme is of interest to anyone working in the healthcare environment. This includes Consultants, Doctors, Pharmacists, Occupational Therapists, Nurses, Care Staff, Psychologist, Psychotherapy, Social Workers, Chaplains, Allied Health Professionals, Academics, Researchers, and Volunteers.
The programme on Saturday is geared towards both the Health Professionals and the General public.
