When David Friedlieb’s wife needed palliative care, the services in Wagga at the time were relatively limited.
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Julia Friedlieb was just 38 when she died of breast cancer, leaving behind her husband and four daughters aged between eight and 14.
In the two decades since his wife’s experiences, Mr Friedlieb has seen palliative care services in Wagga expanded dramatically.
Mr Friedlieb was on hand at the Calvary Hospital palliative care unit on Thursday to see eight new hospital beds demonstrated.
These new beds were bought after surgeon Gerard Carroll and his contest partner Rene Van Delft raised more than $100,000 in the Wagga Takes Two competition.
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These beds, according to Professor Carroll, will make a huge difference to the comfort of patients in the palliative care unit.
“One of the major issues is that sometimes people with advanced cancer are quite debilitated,” he said.
“They lose weight and often it’s painful to even move, and this puts a lot of pressure on the nursing staff to move them regularly to stop pressure and other problems arising.
“These beds move the patients slightly on a regular basis, without any discomfort to the patient.
“The beds can be more easily manipulated to fit the patient contour, rather than the patient having to fit the bed contour.”
Mr Friedlieb said the installation of the new beds in the Calvary palliative care unit, which was opened in September 2015 is one of a number of improvements that he has seen in Wagga since his wife’s illness.
“The only option I was aware of at the time of Julia’s treatment was the community care team, and they were excellent,” he said.
Wagga’s Calvary Palliative Care Enhancement Council has organised a forum to explain options in the city. It will be held at the Wagga Civic Theatre, from 6pm on Monday, November 19.
“We want to help people to start having those conversations in their families,” Mr Friedlieb said.
“Now, with the forum, we are trying to make people more aware of the services.
“It’s easier to start those conversations beforehand.
“You have to have the conversation. It’s very important to have that conversation and give your family a very clear understanding of what your expectations are for that time, how far you want to go with treatment, particularly if it is taken out of your hands.
“Family members won’t necessarily remember word for word, but they will have a strong impression of what you want.”
Both health professionals and carers who have looked after loved ones in palliative care will speak at the Wagga forum.