The appointment of the council is part of the implementation of the Ministry of Health’s five-year action plan from 2021, which emphasises that palliative care centres should support the development and dissemination of knowledge in palliative medicine, both in home nursing services and in nursing homes, and that a strong network of contacts between healthcare institutions should be established.

A palliative care centre was formally established at SAk at the beginning of 2023. Its role is to strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration in specialised palliative care, reinforce teamwork and further develop services in line with the needs of patients and their families.

“With the appointment of this advisory council, an important step has been taken towards strengthening coordinated and comprehensive palliative care in North Iceland, with an emphasis on collaboration, knowledge sharing and improved services for patients and their families,” says Dóra Björk Jóhannsdóttir, project manager of the Palliative Care Centre at SAk and chair of the advisory council.

Role of the advisory council

The advisory council will work to:

• coordinate and strengthen palliative care in North Iceland through increased cooperation between healthcare institutions

• promote the development of palliative care and the use of evidence-based knowledge

• strengthen general palliative care services for diverse patient groups and improve access to specialised palliative care

• reinforce advisory services in specialised palliative care, including strengthening the SAk palliative care consultation team

• increase education and knowledge of palliative care among healthcare professionals

• enhance public awareness and understanding of palliative care

• strengthen collaboration with the academic community
  

Members of the advisory council

The following representatives have been appointed to the advisory council for a three-year term:

• Dóra Björk Jóhannsdóttir, project manager of the Palliative Care Centre at SAk and chair of the council

• Valgerður Þorsteinsdóttir, chief physician in geriatric medicine at SAk

• Sólveig Pétursdóttir, chief physician in rehabilitation medicine at SAk

• Arna Rún Óskarsdóttir, geriatric physician at HSN

• Hilda Hólm, quality manager at HSN

• Bryndís Björg Þórhallsdóttir, director of nursing at Heilsuvernd

• Silja Jóhannsdóttir, registered nurse at Heilsuvernd