Video reflexive ethnographic (VRE) and related video research methods have a substantial history of use in healthcare settings. This is largely because they have the ability to capture the ephemeral and complex facets of social, organisational and interpersonal phenomena around health care. As a participatory and, at times, potentially intrusive methodology VRE has substantial practical challenges particularly in relation to gaining access to and operating within complex healthcare settings. This paper presents an account of a VRE project conducted in a community-based palliative care setting. This setting is particularly complex due to the potentially tumultuous, emotional impacts of dying, death, and bereavement and the diverse settings of community based healthcare. This paper brings attention to some of the practical issues encountered during the process of gaining access to the site, establishing working relationships with participants and maintaining the momentum of the project. Key issues faced by the research team include negotiating relationships among participants, participant and researcher discomfort when filming, limited time and engagement of participants and the requirements of respectful yet pragmatic data management. By examining and critiquing the ways in which these issues where confronted by the research team this paper provides lessons for future researchers and practitioners engaging in VRE. These lessons speak to navigating the varying roles of the researcher, managing the perception of the research project, providing value for participants in alternate ways and the pragmatic concerns of doing VRE. The findings of this paper serve to underscore the potential of VRE to foster creative scholarship within a complex healthcare setting.

Acknowledgements:
This study was funded by the Agency for Clinical Innovation. In addition to the authors, the research team included Prof. Meera Agar (University of Technology Sydney), Ms Janeane Harlum (South Western Sydney Local Health District (SWSLHD)), Ms Penny Waldon (SWSLHD), and Ms Therese Smeal (SWSLHD). The authors would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the clinicians, clients, and carers who graciously contributed to this study.