Palliative Medicine

Palliative care supports people and their families who are dealing with life-limiting illness. A palliative care approach aims to improve quality of life by addressing social, psychological and spiritual needs as well as physical needs such as managing pain and other distressing symptoms.

Palliative Care embraces the holistic care model and the Palliative Medicine trainee is an integral part of the multi-professional team which includes nurses, social workers, counsellors, chaplains, physiotherapists and occupational therapists. The Auckland region offers an excellent opportunity to work across different healthcare settings as part of a multi-professional team.

Suitably qualified doctors can gain Registrar experience or vocationally train in Palliative Medicine. Training sites accredited by the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) Chapter of Palliative Medicine are located in hospices and public hospitals in each of the 3 Auckland Regional District Health Boards (DHBs) (Auckland DHB, Counties Manukau DHB and Waitemata DHB).

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Interviews

Interview - Dr Oleg Kiriaev

Dr Oleg Kiriaev is a current Registrar and has been in the Auckland Region since 1998. Oleg talks to Auckland Doctors about the great rewards he finds working in Palliative Medicine!

Interview - Dr James Jap

James has been in the Auckland Region for almost 5 years and his passion to assist others and to make a difference in people’s lives has lead him down the Palliative Medicine training pathway where he is now an advanced trainee..... ⇡ Top

Sites and Resources

Hospital Sites

• Hospice NZ

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How to train as a Palliative Medicine Specialist

There are positions for four trainees on the Auckland Region Palliative Medicine Advanced Training Rotation. Each of the three regional DHBs is the primary host for the trainee. Rotation between DHBs enables trainees to fulfil the training requirements specified by the Chapter of Palliative Medicine (RACP) in the Advanced Training Program Handbook.

There is provision for trainees to rotate between hospital and hospice in-patient and community settings to enable completion of:

• 3 mandatory six month training terms (Terms 1-3) in a designated Palliative Medicine training post (within specialist palliative care units),
• Six month mandatory Oncology training term (Term 4) in the Regional Cancer and Blood Service based at Auckland City Hospital
• 2 Six month elective periods (Term 5 and 6).

Support is also given to assist trainees fulfil other aspects of the prescribed training program, such as supervision of case report, project and four mandatory educational modules currently being developed by the Chapter

Several registrar posts are also available in the region for doctors wishing to gain 6 months experience in Palliative Medicine in a hospital setting prior to making a formal commitment to a training programme or for an elective period as part of other specialty training.  Ocassionally a run may be offered in the hospice setting.

Posts are available within the following services:

• Auckland City Hospital Palliative Care Service
• North Shore Hospital Palliative Care Service
• Middlemore Hospital Palliative Care Service

For specifics of training requirements, visit the Royal Australasian College of Physicians website.

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Who can I talk to and where to next?

Doctors considering advanced training in Palliative Medicine trainees are advised to discuss their intentions with a member of the Palliative Medicine Vocational Training Committee (see contact details below).

As specified by the Chapter of Palliative Medicine (RACP) in the Advanced Training Program Handbook, applicants for Advanced Training must obtain prospective approval for Advanced Training from the Chapter of Palliative Medicine (RACP) prior to commencement of their first training term. This requires submission of application fee and filling in the Programme Approval Application Form.

Please feel welcome to contact the following members of the Vocational Training Committee (VTC):

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Contacts

Who can I talk to and where to next?

Doctors considering advanced training in Palliative Medicine trainees are advised to discuss their intentions with a member of the Palliative Medicine Vocational Training Committee (see contact details below).

As specified by the Chapter of Palliative Medicine (RACP) in the Advanced Training Program Handbook, applicants for Advanced Training must obtain prospective approval for Advanced Training from the Chapter of Palliative Medicine (RACP) prior to commencement of their first training term. This requires submission of application fee and filling in the Programme Approval Application Form.

Please feel welcome to contact the following members of the Vocational Training Committee (VTC) as below.

Auckland District Health Board

Waitemata District Health Board

Counties Manukau District Health Board