More patients are showing up at 1st appointment with advanced cancers, doctors say

“Exhausted. Helpless. Feeling like a failure. Some palliative care doctors and nurses say they’re burned out because more patients face incurable cancers. To cope, they’re supporting each other through COVID-19’s latest wave in Canada.

This week, a Leger survey for the Conference Board of Canada suggested 97 per cent of 200 doctors and nurses who provide direct patient care in hospitals reported fatigue and burnout have increased in their workplace. Most cited inadequate staffing levels resulting in stress from not being able to offer optimal care.

And those offering comfort care tell CBC they’re seeing more patients who are terminal at their first appointment than they did before the pandemic. Cancer specialists are in a prime position to observe the effects on patients, their families and each other.”

https://www.cbc.ca/radio/whitecoat/palliative-care-burnout-covid-wcba-1.6278131