Bringing Palliative Care to the QCH Community

After experiencing a lack of palliative care resources while caring for her sick son, Linda Hay was determined to bring those services to her community. 

Linda joined QCH as an Orthopedic Nurse when the hospital first opened its doors. Inspired by her vision to bring palliative care closer to home, she worked with community volunteers, the Nepean Police, and former CEO John Sutherland to raise funds and build support for a palliative care program.

Side-by-side image of a newspaper clipping and photo of a fundraising event

Community support helped strengthen palliative care in its early years. Left: a newspaper article highlighting a donation that funded the purchase of a morphine pump for the hospital's Palliative Care Program. Right: community members, including Director of Nursing Lynn Taylor and a Kanata councillor, participate in Kanata Fundraising Day to raise funds and awareness for palliative care services.

Their efforts exceeded expectations, doubling the original fundraising goal and leading to the creation of QCH's Palliative Care Program in 1986. As the program's Palliative Care Coordinator, Linda trained 25 volunteers who quickly became an essential part of the care team.

The early Palliative Care team stands together indoors at a hospital event. The group includes team members, community supporters, and volunteers wearing orange jackets.

Members of the early Palliative Care team .

Queensway Carleton HospitalComment