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37 Pages·2014·4.14 MB·English

Message from the Chairman
Hong Kong Society of Palliative Medicine 2013-2014
Dear colleagues,
It is my honour to be elected as the chairman of the Hong This will be a challenge as well as an opportunity for the
Kong Society of Palliative Medicine of the Year 2013-2014 in Society in the coming years to face and work on. The
its twelfth Annual General Meeting. Since its inauguration in (cid:133)(cid:145)(cid:144)(cid:150)(cid:139)(cid:144)(cid:151)(cid:131)(cid:142)(cid:3)(cid:149)(cid:151)(cid:146)(cid:146)(cid:145)(cid:148)(cid:150)(cid:3)(cid:131)(cid:144)(cid:134)(cid:3)(cid:133)(cid:145)(cid:144)(cid:133)(cid:135)(cid:148)(cid:150)(cid:135)(cid:134)(cid:3)(cid:135)(cid:417)(cid:145)(cid:148)(cid:150)(cid:149)(cid:3)(cid:136)(cid:148)(cid:145)(cid:143)(cid:3)(cid:145)(cid:151)(cid:148)(cid:3)(cid:136)(cid:151)(cid:142)(cid:142)(cid:3)(cid:131)(cid:144)(cid:134)(cid:3)
1997, my seven predecessors, namely Dr Michael Sham, Dr associate members, council members and our honorary
Chan Kin Sang, Dr Doris Tse, Dr Lau Kam Shing, Dr Wong Kam advisors are essential to make this happen.
Hung, Dr Annie Kwok and Dr Rico Liu, have laid a solid (cid:6)(cid:145)(cid:142)(cid:142)(cid:131)(cid:132)(cid:145)(cid:148)(cid:131)(cid:150)(cid:139)(cid:152)(cid:135)(cid:3) (cid:135)(cid:417)(cid:145)(cid:148)(cid:150)(cid:149)(cid:3) (cid:131)(cid:144)(cid:134)(cid:3) (cid:150)(cid:135)(cid:131)(cid:143)(cid:3) (cid:153)(cid:145)(cid:148)(cid:141)(cid:3) (cid:131)(cid:148)(cid:135)(cid:3) (cid:150)(cid:138)(cid:135)(cid:3)
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promoting the standards in clinical practice, education and Kong Society of Palliative Medicine is special in that it is the
research in palliative medicine in Hong Kong. To quote a few (cid:148)(cid:135)(cid:149)(cid:151)(cid:142)(cid:150)(cid:3)(cid:145)(cid:136)(cid:3)(cid:149)(cid:146)(cid:135)(cid:133)(cid:139)(cid:131)(cid:142)(cid:139)(cid:149)(cid:150)(cid:149)(cid:3)(cid:136)(cid:148)(cid:145)(cid:143)(cid:3)(cid:150)(cid:153)(cid:145)(cid:3)(cid:134)(cid:139)(cid:417)(cid:135)(cid:148)(cid:135)(cid:144)(cid:150)(cid:3)(cid:149)(cid:146)(cid:135)(cid:133)(cid:139)(cid:131)(cid:142)(cid:150)(cid:139)(cid:135)(cid:149)(cid:481)(cid:3)(cid:139)(cid:144)(cid:150)(cid:135)(cid:148)(cid:144)(cid:131)(cid:142)(cid:3)
examples, we have witnessed the increase in provision of medicine and clinical oncology, working together. Our
palliative care services, increase in the number of palliative members include medical, nursing, allied health as well as
care practitioners, extension of palliative care services to non-clinical colleagues. We also work closely together with
patients with non-cancer diseases, and initiatives in the Hong Kong Palliative Nursing Association, the Training
facilitating and enhancing home support of patients Subcommittee of Central Committee in Palliative Care of
including the dying phase. It is my privilege to work with our Hospital Authority, and the Society for the Promotion of
dedicated council members in the coming year to continue Hospice Care in organizing its various educational and social
to build on this foundation. activities. In the past two years, we also participated in the
My encounter with palliative care took root since my Multi-Specialty MEGA Conference, hoping to promote the
medical student years. In 1984, I was inspired by the book awareness of palliative care in the private sector. I am
On Death and Dying by Elizabeth Kubler Ross. I wrote a small (cid:142)(cid:145)(cid:145)(cid:141)(cid:139)(cid:144)(cid:137)(cid:3)(cid:136)(cid:145)(cid:148)(cid:153)(cid:131)(cid:148)(cid:134)(cid:3)(cid:150)(cid:145)(cid:3)(cid:143)(cid:145)(cid:148)(cid:135)(cid:3)(cid:133)(cid:145)(cid:142)(cid:142)(cid:131)(cid:132)(cid:145)(cid:148)(cid:131)(cid:150)(cid:139)(cid:145)(cid:144)(cid:3)(cid:153)(cid:139)(cid:150)(cid:138)(cid:3)(cid:134)(cid:139)(cid:417)(cid:135)(cid:148)(cid:135)(cid:144)(cid:150)(cid:3)(cid:146)(cid:131)(cid:148)(cid:150)(cid:139)(cid:135)(cid:149)(cid:3)
study report with the title “Meeting the Needs of Dying of the health care sector in achieving the common goal of
Patients”and I visited the only palliative care service at that (cid:139)(cid:143)(cid:146)(cid:148)(cid:145)(cid:152)(cid:139)(cid:144)(cid:137)(cid:3)(cid:150)(cid:138)(cid:135)(cid:3)(cid:147)(cid:151)(cid:131)(cid:142)(cid:139)(cid:150)(cid:155)(cid:3)(cid:145)(cid:136)(cid:3)(cid:142)(cid:139)(cid:136)(cid:135)(cid:3)(cid:131)(cid:144)(cid:134)(cid:3)(cid:131)(cid:142)(cid:142)(cid:135)(cid:152)(cid:139)(cid:131)(cid:150)(cid:139)(cid:144)(cid:137)(cid:3)(cid:149)(cid:151)(cid:417)(cid:135)(cid:148)(cid:139)(cid:144)(cid:137)(cid:3)(cid:145)(cid:136)(cid:3)
time in Hong Kong--- Our Lady of Maryknoll Hospital. As a patients and families facing death and dying.
concluding remark, I quoted a verse from the Book of Job: Finally, I would like to express my sincere thanks to the
“Listen to me, do but listen, and let that be the comfort you Editorial Board of our Newsletter under the leadership of
(cid:145)(cid:417)(cid:135)(cid:148)(cid:3)(cid:143)(cid:135)(cid:484)(cid:499)(cid:3)(cid:7)(cid:135)(cid:149)(cid:146)(cid:139)(cid:150)(cid:135)(cid:3)(cid:150)(cid:138)(cid:135)(cid:3)(cid:131)(cid:134)(cid:152)(cid:131)(cid:144)(cid:133)(cid:135)(cid:143)(cid:135)(cid:144)(cid:150)(cid:3)(cid:139)(cid:144)(cid:3)(cid:143)(cid:135)(cid:134)(cid:139)(cid:133)(cid:131)(cid:142)(cid:3)(cid:149)(cid:133)(cid:139)(cid:135)(cid:144)(cid:133)(cid:135)(cid:481)(cid:3) Dr Doris Tse in setting up this excellent platform for sharing
increased availability of disease-modifying treatment for as well as sharing with us the scenic pictures on the covers;
cancer and non-cancer diseases, and the substantial (cid:150)(cid:138)(cid:135)(cid:3)(cid:22)(cid:133)(cid:139)(cid:135)(cid:144)(cid:150)(cid:139)(cid:420)(cid:133)(cid:3)(cid:22)(cid:151)(cid:132)(cid:133)(cid:145)(cid:143)(cid:143)(cid:139)(cid:150)(cid:150)(cid:135)(cid:135)(cid:3)(cid:139)(cid:144)(cid:3)(cid:133)(cid:145)(cid:145)(cid:148)(cid:134)(cid:139)(cid:144)(cid:131)(cid:150)(cid:139)(cid:144)(cid:137)(cid:3)(cid:145)(cid:151)(cid:148)(cid:3)(cid:135)(cid:134)(cid:151)(cid:133)(cid:131)(cid:150)(cid:139)(cid:145)(cid:144)(cid:131)(cid:142)(cid:3)
development of palliative care services in the past 30 years, activities; our Webmaster Dr Lam Po Tin in continuously
(cid:150)(cid:138)(cid:139)(cid:149)(cid:3)(cid:146)(cid:142)(cid:135)(cid:131)(cid:3)(cid:136)(cid:148)(cid:145)(cid:143)(cid:3)(cid:131)(cid:3)(cid:149)(cid:151)(cid:417)(cid:135)(cid:148)(cid:139)(cid:144)(cid:137)(cid:3)(cid:138)(cid:151)(cid:143)(cid:131)(cid:144)(cid:3)(cid:132)(cid:135)(cid:139)(cid:144)(cid:137)(cid:3)(cid:136)(cid:131)(cid:133)(cid:139)(cid:144)(cid:137)(cid:3)(cid:134)(cid:135)(cid:131)(cid:150)(cid:138)(cid:3)(cid:131)(cid:144)(cid:134)(cid:3) updating our website; the Research Subcommittee in
dying is still frequently encountered. Just a month ago, I (cid:146)(cid:148)(cid:145)(cid:143)(cid:145)(cid:150)(cid:139)(cid:144)(cid:137)(cid:3) (cid:133)(cid:145)(cid:142)(cid:142)(cid:131)(cid:132)(cid:145)(cid:148)(cid:131)(cid:150)(cid:139)(cid:152)(cid:135)(cid:3) (cid:148)(cid:135)(cid:149)(cid:135)(cid:131)(cid:148)(cid:133)(cid:138)(cid:3) (cid:135)(cid:417)(cid:145)(cid:148)(cid:150)(cid:149)(cid:482)(cid:3) (cid:150)(cid:138)(cid:135)(cid:3) (cid:8)(cid:150)(cid:138)(cid:139)(cid:133)(cid:149)(cid:3)
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lung cancer who emphasized to me that she was not only society at large on ethical issues regarding end-of-life care;
(cid:134)(cid:139)(cid:149)(cid:150)(cid:148)(cid:135)(cid:149)(cid:149)(cid:135)(cid:134)(cid:3)(cid:146)(cid:138)(cid:155)(cid:149)(cid:139)(cid:133)(cid:131)(cid:142)(cid:142)(cid:155)(cid:481)(cid:3)(cid:132)(cid:151)(cid:150)(cid:3)(cid:149)(cid:138)(cid:135)(cid:3)(cid:153)(cid:131)(cid:149)(cid:3)(cid:498)(cid:149)(cid:151)(cid:417)(cid:135)(cid:148)(cid:139)(cid:144)(cid:137)(cid:499)(cid:3)(cid:523)(cid:498)我不止是辛 the Society for the Promotion of Hospice Care in sponsoring
苦，而是痛苦(cid:488)(cid:499)(cid:3)(cid:524)(cid:484)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:9)(cid:131)(cid:133)(cid:139)(cid:144)(cid:137)(cid:3)(cid:131)(cid:144)(cid:134)(cid:3)(cid:131)(cid:134)(cid:134)(cid:148)(cid:135)(cid:149)(cid:149)(cid:139)(cid:144)(cid:137)(cid:3)(cid:138)(cid:151)(cid:143)(cid:131)(cid:144)(cid:3)(cid:149)(cid:151)(cid:417)(cid:135)(cid:148)(cid:139)(cid:144)(cid:137)(cid:481)(cid:3) the printing of this Newsletter; and last but not least, all our
(cid:139)(cid:144)(cid:133)(cid:142)(cid:151)(cid:134)(cid:139)(cid:144)(cid:137)(cid:3)(cid:145)(cid:144)(cid:135)(cid:495)(cid:149)(cid:3)(cid:145)(cid:153)(cid:144)(cid:3)(cid:149)(cid:151)(cid:417)(cid:135)(cid:148)(cid:139)(cid:144)(cid:137)(cid:3)(cid:135)(cid:154)(cid:146)(cid:135)(cid:148)(cid:139)(cid:135)(cid:144)(cid:133)(cid:135)(cid:481)(cid:3)(cid:135)(cid:144)(cid:150)(cid:131)(cid:139)(cid:142)(cid:149)(cid:3)(cid:150)(cid:138)(cid:135)(cid:3)(cid:138)(cid:135)(cid:131)(cid:148)(cid:150)(cid:3) council members and honorary advisors
and attitude of palliative care workers beyond in contributing your valuable time
knowledge and skills. (cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:131)(cid:144)(cid:134)(cid:3)(cid:135)(cid:417)(cid:145)(cid:148)(cid:150)(cid:149)(cid:484)
I wish you all a year of the Horse
filled with joy, peace and hope!
Dr Lam Wai Man
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Report on AGM & ASM
of Hong Kong Society of Palliative Medicine 2013
The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Hong Kong Society of Palliative
Medicine was held on 29th November 2013 at the
Centre for Health Protection, Hospital Authority
Head Office. The meeting was kicked off by our
chairperson Dr. Rico Liu reporting on his work in
2012-2013. This was followed by the financial report
which showed that our balance was sound and
healthy. Election was held and Dr. Lam Wai-man
was elected chairperson for the coming year.

This was immediately followed by the
Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM). We were
honoured to have Dr Sara Booth as our
guest speaker. Dr. Booth is a world
renowned clinician and researcher on
management of shortness of breath.
Currently she is the Associate Lecturer of
the University of Cambridge and Honorary
Consultant, Addenbrookes Palliative Care
Service, Cambridge University Hospital.
She directs the Breathlessness Intervention
Service (BIS) which is a comprehensive and
multi- dimensional service including the use
Dr. Rico Liu gave his Chairman’s report for
2012 - 2013
The Council of HKSPM, members from HKSPN and our guests, Dr Sara Booth and Ms. Julie Burkin
Report on ASM and AGM of HKSPM
HKSPM Newsletter 2014 Apr Issue 1 P3
of fan, practice of mindfulness and
relaxation, anxiety management and
psychological assessment and support,
exercise, energy conservation and activity
pacing, pharmacological management,
teaching of breathing techniques,
breathing re-training and secretion
clearance.
Dr. Sara Booth delivering her talk and the audience
The title of her talk was “Improving
Breathlessness in Advanced Cardio-
respiratory Disease and Cancer".
Dr. Booth gave a comprehensive
presentation and advocated the use of
fan for this group of patients. Her talk
was well-received and had generated
much discussion.
Dr Booth, together with her
occupational therapist colleague
Ms. Julie Burkin also conducted
workshops on 27th and 28th
November which covered topics
on the use of fan, mindfulness
relaxation, and other relaxation
exercise. At the workshops, our
guest speakers emphasized the
need for patients to stay active
and to have a mobility action plan
to enhance daily activities.
Dr Sara Booth and Ms. Julie Burkin
conducting the workshops
Report on ASM and AGM of HKSPM
HKSPM Newsletter 2014 Apr Issue 1 P4
All the workshops were well attended
and had attracted many participants from
different disciplines and different ranks.
The workshops were conducted in an
interactive manner and local particpants
were enthusiastic in joining the group
discussions. The participants had found
the contents informative, practical, and
highly relevant as “breathlessness” is a
commonly encountered symptom in their
clinical practices. Miss Burkin also
delivered a talk on “Applying Kawa
Model to Breathlessness Management”.
It was a very valuable chance to learn
from experts with hands-on experience
in service planning and delivery.
Report on ASM and AGM of HKSPM
HKSPM Newsletter 2014 Apr Issue 1 P5
Hospital Authority Corporate Scholarship Program for Doctors
Big big world out there...
Dr Jasmine TM Chan
Department of Medicine & Geriatrics, Our Lady of Maryknoll Hospital
Correspondence: [email protected]
HKSPM Newsletter 2014 Apr Issue 1 P6-9
When I was a basic physician trainee, I admired the
training opportunity obtained by fellows of various
specialties in overseas medical centres. It is such a privilege
and valuable offer for mind-opening experience.
At the end of 2012, Hospital Authority (HA) offered its
Corporate Scholarship Program for Doctors again. There
were about 70 prioritized training areas for various
specialties. I was delighted to know that one was issued for
Palliative Medicine under the title “Care Pathway for the
Dying Patients”. Without second thought, I applied for the
scholarship to make my dream come true by submitting a
proposal as required. It consisted of details of clinical
attachment, learning objectives, proposed training
activities, as well as anticipated contribution to HA upon
completion of training. Among the training objectives, the
most important one was to obtain an overview of palliative
There are two main streams of Caritas Christi Hospice
care service provision in an overseas centre, especially to
look for the differences when compared with the system in (CCH); one is set up at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Melbourne
Hong Kong. (Fitzroy Campus) and the other is located at Kew Campus
further away from the city centre. CCH at St. Vincent’s
Writing a proposal was easy, but finding a suitable
Hospital consists of 8 inpatient beds. It mainly provides
placement centre was another business. After many
inpatient palliative care consultative service to other
correspondence and negotiation, I finally went to
specialties. Besides, there are out-patient clinics for patients
Melbourne in Australia as an observer in the Centre for
with cancers and end-organ failure, such as heart failure,
Palliative Care. It is a state-wide service based at Caritas
renal conservative, lung and neurological diseases. On the
Christi Hospice and is a Collaborative Centre of the
other hand, palliative care services at the Kew Campus
University of Melbourne. Like most organizations in other
consists of 28 inpatient beds, a day care centre and the
parts of Australia, the Centre provides educational
community palliative care (equivalent to home care service
programs across Victoria, conducts research projects and
in Hong Kong).
supports clinical services in a tertiary hospital.
During the attachment period, I had gone through a
comprehensive range of clinical services in CCH and
attended regular educational activities from several
organizations. I was impressed by a number of areas which
are significantly different when compared to local practice.
Inpatient palliative care consultative service
Palliative care consultative service within St Vincent’s
Hospital is well organized. It is provided by an independent
consultation team of palliative care consultants, registrars
and nurse practitioners. In particular, nurse practitioners are
qualified and supportive to patient management alongside
with doctors, as well as supervise the palliative care offered
by nursing staff in other units. Within the hospital,
consultations could be unexpectedly acute and urgent. For
Hospital Authority Corporate Scholarship Program for Doctors
HKSPM Newsletter 2014 Apr Issue 1 P6
Hospital Authority Corporate Scholarship Program for Doctors
instance, the Emergency Department once sought advice understanding of the patients’ medical condition. Then,
for end-of-life care for a dying patient who presented with outcome of discussion will be documented simultaneously
massive intra-cranial haemorrhage. in the clinical information system to facilitate follow up.
Support from general practitioners
In the community, most palliative care patients receive
shared care from their general practitioners. To facilitate
patient management, general practitioners handle their
chronic medical diseases, assist drug titration and
prescription, offer support to caregivers, as well as care for
patients who choose to die at home. Therefore, palliative
care specialists can focus on their expertise and manage
more complicated cases. At the same time, patients are able
to enjoy the benefit of continual follow up and timely
support outside the palliative care unit.
Choice of opioids
During daily practice in Hong Kong, optimal pain control
could be limited to certain extent by the availability of
opioids. Some medications, such as oxycodone,
Multidisciplinary approach hydromorphone and buprenorphine are just like “textbook
stuff” to doctors without hands-on experience. In contrast,
When in palliative care, we enjoy the privilege of
the choice of opioids in the overseas centre is numerous.
multi-disciplinary team approach. It was even more
One pharmacist who worked there mentioned, “Doctors
interesting to participate in the multi-disciplinary meetings
can just prescribe anything that comes to his/ her mind until
of an overseas centre which are always well-attended by the
we tell them that it’s not available!” However, in order to
team members. Apart from doctors (Centre Director,
secure drug safety, regular case screening and audit
consultants, registrars, trainees and intern), nursing staff
meeting are held with the resident pharmacists.
(Nurse Manager, ward nurses and research nurse), social
workers, psychologists and pastoral care workers, there are Patient culture
different allied health care workers, e.g. the music therapist, Patient encounter was another remarkable experience
participating in those meetings. Moreover, three when staying in a foreign country. During out-patient clinic,
psychiatrists from the patients and family members were invited and led
Psycho-oncology team also from the waiting area into the consultation room
work in alliance with the by doctors. The health care workers not only had
palliative care team to support to introduce themselves by names, but also
patients and caregivers. needed to get to know the relatives’. It is widely
To remind staff about accepted that patients and relatives could call
work-life balance, coffee/ tea, doctors’ first name during consultation.
homemade desserts and other In general, patients are knowledgeable with
snacks are prepared by team their disease conditions, e.g. aware of drug names,
members regularly for sharing jargons, internet information, etc. Besides, they
during the multi-disciplinary are mentally sound, able to engage in open
meetings. dialogue, express their values and concerns, make best use
Within the hospital, weekly multidisciplinary meetings of resources provided and agree/ disagree on management
across different specialties are also held for different plan. For instance, one patient requested, “I have pulled out
cancers, such as colorectal, brain and lung. The meetings the feeding tube. I would like to sign the refusal form.” Most
were joined by twenty to thirty specialists. Selected clinical of the time, decision making is shared between doctor,
cases, including those for treatments of palliative intent, are patient and family members.
discussed under the collaborative effort of physicians, For symptom assessment in palliative care, it is
surgeons, oncologists, radiologists and pathologists. During promising when patient can report pain characteristics in
the meetings, pathological slides and radiological imaging detail and tell the response to treatment. It is also
are presented to all health care staff to obtain a thorough appreciated that they are out-spoken and ready to express
Hospital Authority Corporate Scholarship Program for Doctors
HKSPM Newsletter 2014 Apr Issue 1 P7
Hospital Authority Corporate Scholarship Program for Doctors
emotions, such as one patient sighed, "I feel guilty to Physical environment
depend on my daughter to take care of me.” and another
For visitors like me, it is amazing to explore the
explained, “I am not angry, but just feeling frustrated!".
“hotel-like” hospice. One could experience the spacious
Therefore, it is not hard to imagine that sufficient time wards, homey single rooms, gorgeous view of
must be allowed for each consultation which usually takes heritage-listed buildings outside the hospital premise,
30-60 minutes per case. outdoor area comparable to botanical gardens, audio-visual
stimulation from patients’ art pieces and soothing music
Clinical duty
from volunteers’ instruments. Furthermore, well-equipped
For doctors working in the overseas centre, clinical
common areas are opened for families. Those include open
duties are significantly different when compared to Hong
kitchen, patient’s lounge, living room, quiet room, chapel,
Kong. Firstly, there is fine division of labour within the
as well as art room. Also, a few beds are available for
palliative care team and a frontline doctor does not have to
caregivers who choose to stay overnight with patients.
provide all scope of services. For instance, doctors who look
Because of patient-centred care, things did happen out
after inpatients will not be responsible for outpatient
of surprise. One day during the ward round, a frustrated
service, and vice versa. Also, they do not need to share
patient was cheered up by the consultant who said, “I
general medical duties or involve in other specialist clinics.
realise that you enjoy smoking in the sun at home…you can
Besides, an intern was designated for support of inpatient
go out through that door into the garden for a cigarette.” I
palliative care, as well as training with the team. What is
was astonished to learn that boundaries or restrictions we
more, there is less time pressure for attending outpatient
tend to upheld could actually be removed for the sake of
cases.
quality end-of-life care!
Finally, it is encouraging to see in the department policy
In the luxurious physical environment within the
which states “Overtime should not be routine...” I am sure it
hospice, how it functions to the best also depends on how
is an ideal working sta tus that Hong Kong doctors have
the working force perceives and transforms everything.
dreamed for decades.
With passion and love, a trolley is not simply designed for
Hospital Authority Corporate Scholarship Program for Doctors
HKSPM Newsletter 2014 Apr Issue 1 P8
Hospital Authority Corporate Scholarship Program for Doctors
wound dressing; it can be used to carry paintbrushes and colours to
do art therapy. Similarly, the trolley can be filled with bottles of wine
and drinking glasses from donation to bring pleasure of life to those
in need. All these are about offering choices to patients to make
them fulfilled.
Despite less well-equipped and luxurious local environment, we
can operate what we have already got to the maximum. This will be
for the best interest of our patients and caregivers, because "how
people die lives in the memory of those who live on." – Cicely
Saunders, founder of modern hospice movement.
Lastly, I would like to express gratitude to Central Committee
(Palliative Care) of HA for offering the scholarship. Sincere thanks
also go to Dr Vincent Yeung, Chief of Service, and fellow colleagues
of the Department of Medicine & Geriatrics, OLMH for their
tremendous support during a time of manpower shortage. In
addition, the acceptance for clinical attachment in the Centre for
Palliative Care is highly appreciated. Apart from gaining knowledge
and skill, there are extra
benefits from getting to
know and learning to
collaborate with different
people in a completely

different environment of a
foreign country. The fruitful
training experience will be
nice to recall for years to
come.

Hospital Authority Corporate Scholarship Program for Doctors
HKSPM Newsletter 2014 Apr Issue 1 P9
香港紓緩醫學學會
及
香港紓緩護理學會
祝大家 年常常喜樂，龍馬精神!
HKSPM Newsletter 2014 Apr Issue 1 P10