We looked at the PSTs in GHs and the views held by their staff on palliative care (PC), palliative medicine (PM) and terminal care (TC). PSTs were recently regulated by law in Belgium. Little is known about the views held by PST-professionals on the policies of care for the terminally ill.
Objectives: To provide representative conclusions about the number of employees and their profession, the organization of the care of these PST’s, their activities and their views on PC, PM and TC.
Method: A postal survey was conducted among the coordinators of all 72 PSTs in GHs in Flanders. The PSTs were asked about the number of professionals working both officially and non-officially in their team and we asked them about work organization in their PST. We compared the answers with the legal obligation of ½ FTE MD, nurse and psychologist per 500 beds and compared the reported tasks with those legally prescribed.
Results: 57 coordinators (79.2%) provided us with a representative response. Only 13% of the PSTs have a sufficient official number of appointed professionals. About 35 to 60% of the professionals (MDs, RNs, psychologists, social workers and others) working in a PST is officially appointed. Some of the legal obligations are reported to be met by all PSTs: to spread the culture of PC and to advise on PC. 94% report to organize training for professionals, 82% is coordinating admission and 76% provides the management with advice on policy. Other reported tasks are not legally prescribed such as taking care of family (95%), coaching professionals (92%), providing bedside care (84%), coordinating voluntary work (36%), scientific research (22%).
Conclusions: Only a minority of the GHs have a sufficient official number of professionals. Most PST’s show a considerable amount of professional voluntary work and fulfill legally prescribed tasks and take on more than that.