Speaker at the Palliative Care Ward Nurse (PCWN) Training, Surat Thani Hospital

On Wednesday 8 January 2025, Dr. Krida Uakridathikarn, a physician in family medicine and palliative care, was invited to teach at the Palliative Care Ward Nurse (PCWN) training at Surat Thani Hospital, organized by the hospital's Tharnthip Palliative Care Center.

The World Health Organization defines palliative care as care that improves the quality of life of patients and families facing life-threatening illness, through the prevention and relief of physical, psychological, social and spiritual suffering. Ward nurses are central to this care, staying at the patient's side around the clock.

Dr. Kris taught a session on “Symptom Management” in end-of-life care, focusing on the use of medication to relieve pain and breathlessness, and led a hands-on workshop on the syringe driver, a device that delivers medication continuously under the skin and keeps symptoms steadily controlled when a patient can no longer take medicines by mouth.

The training also covered “ACP (Advance Care Plan): planning care in advance”, a process in which patients, families and the healthcare team plan care together according to the patient's wishes. It links to the right to make an advance directive (living will) under Section 12 of the National Health Act B.E. 2550 (2007).

The programme aimed to strengthen expertise in palliative care, so that patients at the end of life and their families receive care that is high-quality, compassionate and sustainable.