Page 4808 - Week 15 - Thursday, 16 December 1993

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .

---

MINISTER FOR HEALTH

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTION

QUESTION 1119

Community Nursing Service -

Funeral Director Advice

Mrs Carnell - asked the Minister for Health:

(1) Is it normal practice for palliative care nurses to recommend a particular

Funeral Director when a patient dies?

(2) What mechanisms are in place to ensure this does not happen?

(3) Is there a code of practice for palliative care nurses to follow when a patient

dies?

(4) What is the procedure followed when a patient dies?

(5) Are records kept on which Funeral Director is used for deceased palliative

care patients?

Mr Berry - the answer to Mrs Carnells question is:

It is not normal practice for palliative care nurses to recommend a particular Funeral Director when a patient dies. However there are times when a family will ask the nurse for advice, and in that situation all options are given and the family is responsible for contacting a Funeral Director.

(2) The General Policy for Community Nursing does not allow nurses to

recommend a particular product or business in preference to another.

(3 & 4) The code of practice and procedure for palliative care nurses, if they are present in the patients home at the time of death is to

Note the time of death. Notify the deceaseds medical officer. Notify the police if the patient has died under suspicious circumstances. Notify appropriate religious support - on request of the family. Notify their immediate supervisor. Complete nursing records.

(5) No records are kept on which Funeral Director is used for deceased palliative

care patients

---

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .