How palliative care programs ease pain for Geelong families
Waurn Ponds woman Amanda Gregory died in April aged just 48. But her family has opened up on how special programs made the months before her death more bearable.
Geelong
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A phone call on a September evening last year will forever be etched in Jacquie Turner’s memory.
Covid restrictions meant that a doctor rang her to say her sister Amanda Gregory had an aggressive brain tumour, instead of Mrs Turner being able to hold her hand as she received the devastating news.
Ms Gregory’s health began to decline in July last year.
The Waurn Ponds woman’s speech began to slur and after she continued to deteriorated, she had an MRI and was initially misdiagnosed with multiple sclerosis, Mrs Turner said.
Ms Gregory’s symptoms continued to get worse and she was sent for another MRI which revealed she had aggressive brain cancer.
She was just 47 at the time.
Ms Gregory, who was progressively losing function of the left side of her body, underwent surgery to remove a fist sized tumour, Mrs Turner said.
“They said if she hadn’t had the surgery she wouldn’t have lasted another fortnight,” Mrs Turner, 54, said.
Upon her return to Geelong Ms Gregory, who lived in Waurn Ponds, was hospitalised and underwent radiation therapy.
While in hospital, Ms Gregory’s first grandchild Josie was born, but she couldn’t meet her for weeks due to Covid restrictions.
“All she ever wanted was grandbabies,” Mrs Turner said.
It was suggested she move to an aged care facility but Mrs Turner said her “amazingly strong” sister was adamant she wanted to go home.
Ms Gregory, who is survived by a 25-year-old daughter and 27-year-old son, returned to her unit in Waurn Ponds at the end of November, with 24-hour care provided through the NDIS.
She was admitted to the Barwon Health community palliative care program late last year.
She always had fond memories of the ocean, taking her children on beach holidays when
she was a young mother.
Thanks to the Have a Go Program Ms Gregory was able to have a beach day trip and pub lunch in Anglesea with her grown-up children and baby Josie.
Hospice Foundation Geelong provides funds to Barwon Health to run various palliative
care programs throughout Geelong, including the Have a Go Program, which launched in 2019 and supports people to fulfil bucket list activities and create projects that leave a lasting legacy.
Funding from the foundation has allowed Barwon Health and its volunteers to create unique experiences for patients, which have included creative projects, attending sports matches or holiday destinations and even cheese making.
The program allowed Ms Gregory to make two hand casts – one with Mrs Turner and another with Josie, to help allow her granddaughter to have a lasting memory of her grandmother who was unable to watch her grow up.
Mrs Turner said her sister, who she described as fiercely independent and generous with a loud booming laugh, was offered a variety of bucket list activities before her death in April, aged 48.
She “fell in love” with the hand casting.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Hospice Foundation Geelong, which has supported patients, their loved ones and the organisations that support them.
When it formed in 1982, then known as the Geelong Hospice Care Association, it was only the second hospice service in the state at the time.
For 16 years, the association was involved in the direct care of palliative patients in the region.
In 1998, Barwon Health became responsible for the delivery of clinical palliative care in the Geelong area.
Since then, the foundation has focused on supporting other organisations to deliver palliative care through education, respite funding, home support, workforce support and various grants.
Donations and fundraising from the community allow the foundation to do this and
for individuals and their families to make choices around their care.
In 2012, the association changed its name to Hospice Foundation Geelong to reflect that it no longer provided direct patient care.
Hospice Foundation Geelong provides medication and equipment grants to Barwon Health and Bellarine Community Health.
It also has scholarships available for professional development for nurses and healthcare workers in the field, and provides funding to organisations to employ specialist workers that support palliative care patients.
Mrs Turner misses her sister every day, but said the support provided by palliative care programs and volunteers made the period before her untimely death more bearable.
“I don’t think any of us are aware of the services out there until something like this touches your life … it’s just mind-blowing,” Mrs Turner said.
“It’s comforting just to know the process and you’ve got the back up, you’re not alone.
“I know when I used to hear the word ‘palliative’ you envision grim reaper kind of stuff going on but it’s all about dignity and comfort.”
For more information about Hospice Foundation Geelong and to donate, visit
https://hospicefoundationgeelong.org.au/
EARLIER: Has Andres Government fulfilled Health promises?
Another mental health project in Geelong has been hit by delays, with a $16m centre in central Geelong pushed back.
The taxpayer-funded centre, to be operated by Barwon Health, was initially due to be completed late this year.
Construction commenced last year and it’s understood the opening is now expected to be pushed back in to 2023.
The Moorabool St hub, set to provide greater access to treatment and support services for people experiencing mental illness and addiction, was announced last year by the state government.
It’s understood the project has been impacted due to material supply issues and the Covid-19 pandemic.
Up Property managing director Adam Davidson said construction of the five storey hub was still on track to be able to hand the building over by the end of the year.
It will also require fit-outs.
It comes after the Geelong Advertiser last month revealed a new Norlane facility had been delayed.
In March the Liberals, then in government federally, said a purpose-built Head to Health site in Norlane was expected to be fully operating by June.
The service was commissioned by the Western Victoria Primary Health Network.
Chief executive Rowena Clift last month confirmed national building supply and transport logistics had caused some delay to the new bespoke premises, and said it would open later this year.
Committee for Geelong chief executive Jennifer Cromarty said due to a combination of material supply delays and impacts due to the pandemic, many construction projects had taken longer to complete than planned.
“With a significant range of infrastructure projects underway or planned in the region, the need to manage complex supply chain issues including skilled labour shortages is a challenge for the region,” she said.
“As we continue to be impacted by the pandemic, we all need to take care and ensure our health and wellbeing is a priority.”
A state government spokeswoman said it was delivering more than half a billion dollars in vital health and mental health infrastructure projects for the Barwon region to ensure families get the very best health, maternity, paediatric and mental health care, close to home.
Opposition health spokeswoman Georgie Crozier said a Matthew Guy Liberals and Nationals Government would immediately invest to deliver the Barwon Women’s and Children’s Hospital and build a new ambulance station in Armstrong Creek to ensure locals got the healthcare they deserve.
GEELONG’S PROMISED HEALTH PROJECTS
A new women’s and children’s hospital in Geelong
THE PLEDGE: In May 2018, the state government announced $10m would be spent to identify options for transforming Geelong Private Hospital, which closed down, on Ryrie Street into a women’s and children’s hospital.
WHAT’S HAPPENED SINCE: The project has since attracted much more funding, from both state and federal governments, but the pace of progress has been criticised as Geelong’s population explodes.
Barwon Health has said the $500m women’s and children’s hospital would be built within the Geelong hospital precinct.
The former private hospital site, now known as University Hospital Geelong Building B, was taken over by Barwon Health, and is now used for surgeries.
It is understood it will not house the women’s and children’s hospital.
Opposition health spokeswoman Georgie Crozier said the state government had failed Geelong and surrounding communities on health and had no plan to fix the crisis it has created.
“Four years after first promised, the Barwon Women’s and Children’s Hospital is still a fantasy – with no timeline for delivery,” she said.
“Emergency departments are full, waitlist are at record highs, ambulances are overwhelmed and triple-zero cant keep up.
“The people that created this mess are not the ones to fix it.”
A state government spokeswoman said: “We are getting on with delivering a flagship new Barwon Women’s and Children’s Hospital which includes multi-day beds, birthing suites, induction spaces, operating theatres and outpatient clinic rooms – creating 1500 direct and indirect jobs at peak construction.”
WHEN WILL IT BE READY: Work on the project is set to get underway later this year.
The government is working on a timeline to open an eight-storey women’s and children’s hospital in 2029.
Under the first stage of the government promise, women’s and children’s facilities at Geelong hospital would be expanded, including more operating theatres and birth suites, a bigger outpatients area to support paediatric clinics, and a revamp of maternity assessment and short stay areas.
The tower falls under the second stage.
Barwon Health Surf Coast (Torquay Community Hospital)
THE PLEDGE: In 2018, Labor pledged it would replace the small, ageing Torquay Community Health Centre with a new community hospital.
WHAT’S HAPPENED SINCE: In February the state government announced a parcel of land at 110 South Beach Road, Torquay had been secured for the new multimillion-dollar facility.
To be operated by Barwon Health, it will be a small public hospital providing a range of community health and specialist services including urgent care for minor injuries and illnesses, day surgery, paediatric services and mental health services.
WHEN WILL IT BE READY: The final designs for are expected to be released in late 2022, with construction due for completion in 2024.
Kids’ emergency department at Geelong hospital
THE PLEDGE: In 2018, Labor pledged re-elected Andrews government would build a new emergency department devoted to children and their families at Barwon Health. The $20m investment aims to provide a private, calm and compassionate environment for kids.
WHAT’S HAPPENED SINCE: The process to appoint a builder for the project is on track for later this year.
WHEN WILL IT BE READY: The government did not say when it would be completed.
Early parenting centre at the McKellar Centre
THE PLEDGE: The Andrews government pledged to build a new early parenting centre in Geelong prior to the 2018 state election.
WHAT’S HAPPENED SINCE: Works at the site are underway.
WHEN WILL IT BE READY: Construction is expected be completed in 2024.
ADDITIONAL MAJOR PROJECTS
New mental health unit at the McKellar Centre
THE PROJECT: Funding for a 16-bed mental health unit in North Geelong was revealed in 2020.
WHAT’S HAPPENED SINCE: This funding is a direct result of the recommendations from the Interim Report of the Royal Commission. Designed in consultation with people with lived experience of the mental health system, the facility will deliver more than 5800 days of care – which equates to approximately 355 people each year.
WHEN WILL IT BE READY: Construction is almost finished.
Central Geelong mental health hub
THE PROJECT: A new $16m mental health hub on Moorabool St was announced in 2021. Operated by Barwon Health, it will provide better access to treatment and support services for people experiencing mental ill-health and addiction.
WHAT’S HAPPENED SINCE: Work began on the project last year.
WHEN WILL IT BE READY: The centre has been struck by delays and is expected to open next year.
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Originally published as How palliative care programs ease pain for Geelong families
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