Palliative pathways: Navigating syringe drivers and opioid prescribing across country SA
An article written by Debbie Timpano, Palliative Care Project Officer, Ageing and Palliative Care Team, Country SA PHN
Ensuring comfort and dignity for patients in their final stages of life is a cornerstone of compassionate healthcare. Vital to this is the effective management of symptoms through the administration of subcutaneous medications, especially for those unable to swallow oral medications. Syringe drivers, also known as NIKKI pumps, play a crucial role in this process, enabling the continuous infusion of medications to maintain consistent symptom control and patient comfort.
However, a notable gap exists in the proficiency and confidence of healthcare practitioners regarding syringe driver use and the prescribing of palliative opioids. This gap poses significant challenges for those managing end-of-life care at home (including Residential Aged Care Homes), where prompt symptom management is essential for patient comfort and quality of life.
Several factors contribute to this proficiency gap, including limited training opportunities, time constraints within healthcare settings, and concerns about over-prescription of medications, particularly opioids. Addressing these challenges is essential to ensure that healthcare providers have the necessary skills and confidence to deliver high-quality palliative care in home settings.
In response, Country SA PHN, with Commonwealth funding from the Greater Choice for At Home Palliative Care Initiative, has developed free online education modules focused on palliative care medication. These modules target syringe driver use and opioid prescribing in palliative care, aiming to increase confidence and proficiency levels among healthcare providers.
The training is suitable for general practitioners, palliative care nurse practitioners, residential aged care clinical staff, and other health professionals interested in palliative care. Covering essential topics such as planning for end-of-life care, identifying the terminal phase of life, initiating subcutaneous medications, starting a syringe driver, and providing support after death occurs at home, these modules provide practical, accessible training to improve palliative care outcomes.
By addressing educational gaps and providing practical training, these eLearning modules play a critical role in enhancing end-of-life care provision and supporting healthcare practitioners in delivering compassionate and effective care. Ultimately, they aim to ensure that patients receive dignified and comfortable end-of-life care in their own homes, supported by well-equipped healthcare providers.
Through ongoing education and training initiatives, we can continue to improve palliative care outcomes and support individuals and their families during this challenging time. These modules represent a significant step towards empowering end-of-life care and ensuring that every patient receives the care and support they deserve.
Click Here to register for the FREE eLearning modules.
Author
Debbie Timpano
Palliative Care Project Officer
Ageing and Palliative Care Team, Country SA PHN