Winnifred MacArthur, recipient of the first Prince Edward Island award of excellence in palliative care delivery, made a tremendous contribution to the field, says Health and Wellness Minister Doug Currie.
“Winnifred MacArthur has greatly contributed to palliative care throughout her years of service,” said Minister Currie. “She has touched the lives of many patients, families and staff in a very meaningful way.”
The award was presented this summer at the annual PEI Palliative Care Conference. It will be awarded annually to an individual who has made a significant contribution to palliative care.
Ms. MacArthur worked at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto with end of life care before returning to Prince Edward Island to work at the Dr Eric Found Health Centre, which was renamed the Prince Edward Home in 1992.
In 2007, Ms. MacArthur took the position of Provincial Palliative Care Resource Nurse where she had a leadership role in the development and enhancement of the Provincial Integrated Palliative Care Program. She retired in July 2015.
The goal of the Provincial Integrated Palliative Care Program is to enhance client and family quality of life through access to trained, qualified health care teams in the most appropriate setting including the home, long-term care, community care facilities, palliative care units, and palliative care beds in an acute care setting.