Sleep
My name is David Currow, and I am the Professor of Palliative Medicine here at UTS, in the IMPACCT team.
Most of us will know someone who has warning of their death, and as the way we die changes, in the coming years and decades, more of us will have warning of our death. That’s why it’s really important that you and I understand Palliative Care.
Clinical Trials are important in Palliative Care as they are in any area of Health Care. At the end of the day, we want to use the best evidence to get it right the first time, for patients right around the world.
Clinical trials allow us to improve the quality of the care we offer. We all love sleep, and yet for lots of people, sleep doesn’t come easily, or if they do get to sleep, they wake during the night. Particularly in Palliative Care, This can be incredibly problematic.
Working to understand sleep, how we sleep and how we can improve sleep is really important for the quality of care that we offer people.
Interested in finding out more? To express your interest in joining the Sleep SNSC, email paccsc@uts.edu.au (palliative interest) or cst@uts.edu.au (cancer symptom interest).
Subcommittee Chair
Dr Andrew Webster has a special interest in occupational sleep medicine, including insomnia and fatigue management and circadian rhythm disorders. He is currently the Co-Chair of the Occupational Health, Safety and Performance Council of the Australasian Sleep Association.
Andrew's other area of interest is sleep disorders associated with psychiatric disorders. He is currently the Co-chair of the Neurosciences Council of the ASA. He is also experienced in the management of all aspects of general respiratory medicine.
Andrew completed the Fellowship in Sleep Medicine at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, after which he worked as a Consultant Sleep Physician at SCGH. He has been the Respiratory and Sleep Physician for the Aboriginal Health Service in Perth. He practices in clinical locations in West Perth, St John of God Hospital as well as Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. He also conducts regional telehealth clinics.
Andrew graduate from the University of Glasgow and did his advanced training in respiratory and sleep medicine in Sydney a the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and St Vincent's Hospital, including advanced lung diseases and transplantation. He obtained his FRACP in 2006 and subsequently obtained a research grant and spent three years as a research fellow.
