Trichy: The district health department has introduced pain and palliative care service at home for patients. According to sources, the service has been started as a pilot project and it would be expanded across the district depending on effectiveness and feasibility.The service is a concept through which medical check-up and treatment would be provided for patients, who are unable to visit hospitals frequently, at their residences. Geriatric patients, cancer patients, those who’re bedridden, and people who’re suffering from chronic illnesses are predominantly covered in this service. “This concept is quite popular in Kerala and we thought of replicating it,” an official from the health department said.Around nine staff nurses from Trichy underwent training on pain and palliative care service at Idukki and Palakkad districts in Kerala and currently they have been conducting home-based care service in their respective revenue blocks.Speaking about the initiative, deputy director of health services, Trichy district, Dr A Subramani said that the initial response was good. “Recently, our nurses provided palliative treatment for hemiplegia patients and geriatric patients in the rural areas. It proved to be very effective,” he said.Sources said that the department – based on the data on the patients in the district – would prepare their schedule on a weekly/monthly basis and the staff nurses would be assigned to visit patients from a particular village based on it.“Pain control is the main objective. Hence pain-killers are being provided and morphine injections are being administered for those it is necessary. This would also help us keep track of patients who generally can’t visit hospitals often,” the source said.

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