In 2020, an innovative model was proposed to delivery palliative care to a region in WA where previous service models have been unsustainable. Recognition that successful, evidenced based, person centred models of palliative care delivery require a multidisciplinary team, we proposed a metropolitan team support a new team in the Pilbara region with members with varying degrees of palliative care experience.  A collaboration between Bethesda Health Care (metropolitan team), WACHS and Pilbara executive, the Pilbara Palliative Care Project was created whereby a “team is supporting a team” model was established. 

The model incorporates regular joint MDT’s, education sessions, and ongoing mentoring support for team members and back up for complex patients in the region from the metropolitan team. The model includes cross-pollinating visits from metropolitan and rural team members:  metropolitan team members to the region to provide support, education, and capacity building among other health professionals in the region, in addition to patient and family reviews. Rural team members visit Perth to be immersed in palliative care, with time spent on the Bethesda inpatient palliative care unit and community program. 

The success of the project has been reflected by increasing awareness of palliative care in the region with consequently increasing patient numbers in the service (over 80 patients per year).  This has also led to increasing numbers of Advance Care Plans, increasing deaths to stay on country (including several home deaths), management of complex patients including a patient with an intrathecal, increasing staff confidence, along with understanding from the metropolitan team members about rural complexities and cultural sensitivities. Additionally, both metropolitan and rural members have a sense of pride from achieving great outcomes for patients, families and colleagues.