A hospice bridge between two countries
Visit from Ivano-Frankivsk to Münster
An action-packed agenda was set for the six days between 1 May and 6 May. Guests including Dr Iryna Slugotska, Chief Doctor at the Regional Clinical Palliative Care Center, Prof. Anna Ersteniuk, Vice-Rector of the National Medical University, and Prof. Vasyl Mishchuk, the head of the local department for general medical care and medical rehabilitation, gained insights into palliative care structures along with informed answers to questions regarding further professional training. Thanks to interpreter Dr Halina Lejzjus, who switched effortlessly between Ukrainian and German, language was never a barrier.
Types of care in Münster and Bonn
The Johannes Hospice took great pride as host in reporting on its many and varied activities in the field. The very day after the visitors arrived, their tour focused on the inpatient and outpatient departments of the hospice. Of particular interest here was the way opportunities for volunteering are structured and managed. Initial ideas were developed as to how a similar model could be set up in Ivano-Frankivsk. Palliative care includes the medical palliative service of a hospital, and we were particularly fortunate to be able to see it in action at Münster University Hospital (Universitätsklinikum Münster). We were also able to look around what they call the “Studienhospital” (teaching hospital) of the medical faculty. The dean himself guided us through the modern competency centre for medical simulation and was ready to respond to the multitude of questions with in-depth answers.
A tour of the psychogeriatric centre at Clemens-Wallrath-Haus, which provides a wide range of services, proved to be another highlight of the trip, as did an outing to Bonn to hear about rehabilitative therapy options within the context of palliative care at Malteser Krankenhaus Seliger Gerhard Bonn/Rhein-Sieg hospital, where participants had an opportunity to try devices out for themselves and discuss their concerns.
It was a particular joy to see the openness and enthusiasm with which the guests partook in their visitations while also thinking about the steps they could take in their own country to advance the development of care.
Education and training
The guests’ backgrounds in both hands-on caregiving and research contributed to a productive atmosphere. The representatives of the National Medical University were particularly interested in discussing curricular topics for medical and nursing training, as well as for post-graduate education, with a focus on materials, methods and certification. Training programmes for volunteers and family members of people with dementia were also of great interest. Right now, Ukraine is poised to make great advancements in this field, according to Vice-Rector Anna Ersteniuk.
The partnership between the academy at the Johannes Hospice and the educational facilities in Ivano-Frankivsk is a valuable approach characterised by learning experiences on both sides that we are pursuing with tremendous enthusiasm and dedication, also extending to the field of hands-on caregiving.
Culture and recreation
Taking a moment to experience some culture and recreation is a part of any trip to Germany, even though the visitors’ schedule left little downtime. Still, they had a chance to take a guided tour of Münster in Russian, get to know the city of Bonn and enjoy a taste of Westphalian cuisine. The tour of Münster was crowned by a unique opportunity to be present for the closing hymn during Mass at Münster Cathedral and to see the procession of newly ordained deacons and the cathedral chapter led by Diocesan Bishop Felix Genn. Afterwards, it felt to us almost as if a blessing had also been spoken over our projects.
With a plethora of experiences, new inspiration and ideas for a continued partnership tucked firmly away in their baggage, it came time for the Ukrainian delegation to bid Münster a fond farewell. Halina Lejzjus summed it up with a quote from Goethe’s Faust: “Tarry a while! You are so fair!” There is almost no need to say what a joy it was for us as hosts to hear these words.
Image above:
- Iryna Slugotska, Anna Ersteniuk, Halina Lejzjus and Vasyl Mishchuk (from right) at Münster’s Prinzipalmarkt square
Images from top left to bottom right:
- In the inpatient hospice’s garden
- Exchanging gifts in the outpatient department of the hospice
- Outside the teaching hospital
- At the teaching hospital
- Learning more about the psychogeriatric centre
- On the train to Bonn
- At the treatment centre in Bonn
- In front of Bonn’s Beethoven monument
