News from Cherkassy, Ukraine [Новость добавлена - 01.06.2008]

Following the administrative order of the Executive Committee of Cherkassy city borough council, the Co-ordination Council for the development of palliative care was founded. The concept of developing palliative care in Cherkassy was thus approved

In order to implement this decision,  the Executive Committee of Cherkassy city borough council resolved also to approve the foundation of the department of palliative care.
With the aim to assess the actual needs and number of beds required for palliative care and to organise help for incurable patients, the Department of Health in Cherkassy city started to study the following issues: strategies for patients' admission and their hospitalisation, characteristics of their treatment, and duration of hospitalisation. At present the patients are being hospitalised and placed in the therapeutic department of the City Hospital no. 2. The hospitalisation is effected by  granting appointment cards.

During a period of 2,5 months this year 18 patients were hospitalised for palliative care. Of these 47% are terminal-stage cancer patients, 23,6% are patients with unstable psychological background, 17,6% are patients who temporarily lack support from relatives, 11,8% people who suffer from severe illnesses.

Indications for hospitalisation are as follows:
- terminal-stage cancer patients;
- cancer patients who need pain treatment;
- cancer patients who need symptom treatment or after course of chemic-therapeutic treatment;
- patients with terminal stage heart disease, pulmonary disease, liver and kidney diseases, neurological and nervous system disorders;
- patients who temporarily lack support from relatives.
- unavailability of palliative home care
- socio-psychological symptoms at the terminal stage of disease (loosing ability to care for oneself, depression, conflict situation, etc).

Contraindications for hospitalisation are as follows:
- critical dysfunctions of coronary and brain blood flood,
- psychological disorders
-  infectious diseases
- comatose state
- diseases at the stage of decompensation, which need active treatment.

We continue our co-operations with public organisations, especially with the All-Ukrainian Palliative Care Association, and the All-Ukrainian Council of Protection of Rights and Security for patients.
In April 2008 an event took place in Kiev with the participation of medical workers of the City Hospital no. 2 , namely a series of thematic presentations on interdisciplinary team work in palliative care and on aspects of age.

Information about the work of the Health Department is presented on the web-site of the Health Department of Cherkassy city. This information is available for general use.

I. O. Sagaydachna
Secretary of the Co-ordination Council for issues of Palliative Care development

Psyurnik S. V.
Manager of the project of founding hospice care as part of a Christian Centre
psyrnik@mail.ru

Read the Original Article in the CEE&FSU Palliative Care Monthly Newsletter, May 2008