Cuts to a palliative care pilot program on the Coast have left people in the end stages of life and their caregivers without palliative doctors, according to the Sunshine Coast Hospice Society.
"People who are dying don't have a voice. Families are grieving and it's too much at that time," said Diane Giles, hospice co-ordinator. "It causes chaos."
Giles said two doctors participating in a pilot program had their services cancelled recently.
Doctors Sarah Wadge and Edward Berinstein were the two palliative care physicians. Wadge said palliative care nurses often have questions about medications and care as their patients near death.
"If nurses, say on a Sunday, can't contact the family physician, they now have to phone the emergency physician [at St. Mary's]," said Wadge.
Wadge said because that doctor is usually very busy dealing with multiple cases and because they may not be familiar with one of the 40 or so people on the palliative case list, it makes it more challenging to give advice.
She and Berin-stein had two half-day sessionals each month to make rounds with palliative patients and took turns being on a volunteer 24-hour call for care questions.
Anna Marie D'Angelo, spokesperson for VCH, said there have been no changes to services provided by home care nurses who specialize in palliative care and work seven days a week, but not nights.
She said the pilot program was a success and "increased the profile of palliative care in the community" but that "there is no funding" to continue it.
"We are not denying it was helpful to have the sessional doctors there," D'Angelo said.
"This [Liberal] government's priorities have forced Vancouver Coastal [Health] to make impossible decisions," said Powell River-Sunshine Coast MLA Nicholas Simons. "Cutting this service will create a burden to the emergency department and will cause unnecessary hardship to those whose end of life happens at home and to those caring for them."
At over 50 per cent, Wadge said the Coast has a higher than average at-home death rate compared to the rest of the province.
Giles said people are being encouraged to die at home if they can, so the cuts don't make sense to her.
She said there are two palliative rooms at Shorncliffe Lodge, but some patients have refused to go because they cannot afford to pay to die in comfort.
"The rooms are larger. There is a nurse on 24 hours a day. It's a very comfortable place for the family and patient to die. At the hospital there are maybe three other people in the room," said Giles.
