Lights in darkness: What team members do

Dr Ma Chi-ming
Associate Consultant (Palliative Care Service)

“The programme establishes good communication between patients and us. They comply with our advice on medication and exercise. I recall a 68-year-old man who was a frequent visitor to A&E because of shortness of breath. After joining the programme, physiotherapists taught him breathlessness management strategies including breathing skills and home care nurses followed up with visits. As a result, his admission frequency dropped from five times a year to once a year.”

Yeung Tin-lo
Physiotherapist I

“As physiotherapists, we help patients to maintain or improve their functional mobility and autonomy by using non-drug therapies for breathlessness management. For example, we teach them pursed lip breathing, hand‑held fan therapy, exercise therapy, walking aids prescription and caregivers training. One patient told his wife to put the hand-held fan I gave him by the side of his body into coffin when he died because that little device had helped him get through many moments of difficult breathing. I found that really touching.”

Lam Yuk-fong
Advanced Practice Nurse (Home care nurse)

“I follow up on cases at patients’ homes and accompany them on their last journey. I manage their breathing difficulty, teach them about medication, and advise family members on care skills. The team is a big family, and we work together closely for the well-being of our patients.”

Marion Hung
Medical Social Worker

“Team members keep each other informed about the status of patients so we can provide timely and suitable professional input. I remember a home care nurse once told me that a patient did not have a single photo of himself with his wife despite all their years together. So when the patient was next admitted to hospital, we arranged a photoshoot for the couple. That photo was their last photo together. As the sole medical social worker in the team, I build a close relationship with patients and their families, which also helps me offer in-depth bereavement counselling to the families later.”