Description
The Cyprus Association of Cancer Patients and Friends is an NGO dedicated in the fight against cancer and improving and safeguarding the quality of life of cancer patients and their families. One of our services is to offer end-of-life palliative care services at home. The project will provide a pilot 24 hours service in Nicosia beyond the exiting office hours, as at the moment no other entity offers this service, while both the Hospice and the Oncology Centres are overcrowded. This service will provide the security to patients and their families especially during the late hours when they need it the most. That would encourage more patients to receive home care; with serious financial benefits both for patients and the health associations. the project aims to improve the Project promoter (PP) offered health care services, improve the capacity or its nursing staff, transfer the existing knowledge from its partners, the Norwegian and Turkish Cypriot Cancer Association and publicize its new service and make people feel comfortable to have home treatment. Ideally, with the completion of the project the PP plans to set up the model for implementing this service across Cyprus.
Summary of project results
The service was introduced initially in Limassol and later on in Nicosia with the possibility of future expansion in other major cities. It allowed more than 300 new terminally ill patients to remain at home throughout the course of their illness and receive a better quality of life, regarding nursing, medical, and psychological treatments. To establish this service the promoter had to acquire new equipment, train our existing and new staff, upgrade the DITIS software system to HocNet and adapt to the requirements of this new service. The promoter created informational material and a TV spot in order to promote the new service. The dissemination strategy promoted the new service of PASYKAF to more than 50,000 people and encouraged potential patients to feel comfortable to use the 24 hour home care service. The pilot service was extensively advertised also in the offices and stands and leaflets in the Bank of Cyprus Oncology Center. The 24hours Home Nursing and Palliative Care service is invaluable to the quality of life of cancer patients and their families. With regards to all immediate and long term needs, the service has assured high quality cancer care at home and it was effective in offsetting the worst consequences of economic hardship for cancer patients and their families. The project has provided an opportunity for G/C and T/C organizations to work together including the Norwegian partners, and to exchange experiences and best practices. We have also visited the offices and reviewed the work of the T/C organization in the areas which are not controlled by the Republic of Cyprus. In addition, the visit to Norway was also very beneficial, since the promoter received ideas and perspectives on how to run such a service effectively and efficiently in Cyprus.
Summary of bilateral results
The Association has already an established relation with the respective Norwegian Cancer support association and it aims to improve its services; using the 24H support service in Cyprus by transferring the existing knowledge and know how; from Norway to Cyprus. Norwegian experts have attended our training courses and provide their input in our training content. Our staff visited the Norwegian Cancer Society in Norway which helped us to get experiences from first hand on local practices and gain knowledge on equipment, methods, infrastructure, and share the experiences of Norwegian nursing staff.