The QVAD SPS team smiling at the camera
The Queensland Voluntary Assisted Dying Support and Pharmacy Service (QVAD SPS) team, led by their Director Dr. Elizabeth Reymond and supported by a dedicated group of professionals including pharmacists, social workers, nurse s, administrators, and doctors, has been instrumental in implementing voluntary assisted dying (VAD) services since the legislation was enacted on January 1, 2023.
Named as finalists in this year’s Queensland Health Excellence Awards, this recognition highlights the team's exceptional work in providing compassionate and high-quality care to patients seeking voluntary assisted dying (VAD) services across Queensland.
"We are incredibly proud to be recognised as finalists in the Queensland Health Excellence Awards," said Dr. Reymond.
"This acknowledgment underscores the hard work and dedication of our team in delivering a compassionate and professional service to those facing difficult end-of-life decisions."
“We have received so much support from our Executive leadership team across Metro South Health. It was fantastic see Janine Walker, Noelle Cridland, Leslie English, and other senior leaders from Metro South Health in attendance on the night to support Metro South Health teams’ efforts.”
The service has two main arms: one focused on the delivery and management of VAD substances, and the other providing extensive support to patients, families, and healthcare professionals.
The team provides training to a wide range of practitioners, including those from within Queensland Health as well as private health practitioners to raise awareness about end-of-life and VAD discussions. As a first of their kind in Queensland, they are undertaking significant research in the VAD space, contributing to the evolving understanding of this sensitive area.
"We are the go-to team for all levels of support," said Dr Reymond.
"Our team is a source of comfort and guidance for doctors facing complex situations, ensuring they have someone to call on."
One of the highlights for the QVAD SPS team has been the positive feedback from carers and the community.
"The gratitude expressed by those we've helped is incredibly rewarding," said Dr. Reymond.
"It's clear that our compassionate approach makes a significant difference in people's lives."
In a comment provided from a family member who used the VAD service, it reiterated the impact of empowering our loved ones in their end-of-life decisions.
“I'm not haunted by memories of the event because as someone had said to me it was the greatest gift of love I could have given. But that doesn’t mean that it wasn’t difficult. I would not change anything. My husband was given back control, dignity and did it his way. That’s a gift that you guys allowed so thank you.”
Looking ahead, the team aims to build a sustainable workforce to continue providing this essential service. They are also focused on destigmatising conversations around VAD, with the hope that such recognition will help normalise these discussions and offer patients greater security and openness when exploring their end-of-life options.
“It’s important that we continue to educate clinicians so they can provide better person-centred care in end-of-life discussions with their patients. In Queensland doctors and nurse practitioners can introduce the subject of VAD as an option when discussing end-of-life treatments and palliative care and that gives patients a sense of security in bringing up the subject because they might be scared about whether their treating teams agree with it or not.”
“We thought that the demand for these services would plateau at a certain point, but in fact it hasn’t. As more people become aware of VAD the demand increases. We think it allows people to be better informed about their options and so regain some sense of dignity and control at the end of their life.”
“Nobody gets a prize for suffering intolerably as they are dying.”
The QVAD SPS team’s commitment to providing high-quality, compassionate care in the VAD space has set a benchmark for excellence in healthcare, offering hope and support to patients across Queensland. Their finalist status in the Queensland Health Excellence Awards is not only a testament to their hard work and dedication but also a significant step towards normalising and supporting the conversation around VAD in Queensland.