Palliative care services

Palliative care is provided across the region in two ways:

1. A palliative approach for non complex care is established and patient symptoms and on going care are controlled and managed by the GP, community and residential care services. The condition of the patient, family/carer is reasonably stable and no new issues are evident. No specialist palliative care is involved and needs are met within the established care plan.

2. Specialist palliative care responsive to complex pain and symptoms (Grampians Community Palliative Care) and highly complex pain and symptoms (Grampians Regional Palliative Care Team).

2. Specialist palliative care responsive to complex pain and symptoms (South East Palliative Care)

Secondary consults and referral to a specialist palliative care service should be made:

  • Where the patient, family/carer experience a new problem that was unforeseen in the existing plan
  • Patient experiences a rapid increase in the severity of a current problem and/or changes to family/carer situation changes suddenly impacting on patient care
  • Patients experience pain or symptoms that do not respond to the established care plan

Referral to specialist palliative care services should be made using the SCTT referral tool. Specialist palliative care undertakes a broad interdisciplinary assessment and provides direct on going care in conjunction with a palliative approach from GP's, community and residential care services.

General Practice Referral Form

Referral to specialist palliative care services should be made using the SCTT referral tool (or the referral tool on the website of the Palliative Care Service). Specialist palliative care undertakes a broad interdisciplinary assessment and provides direct on going care in conjunction with a palliative approach from GP's, community and residential care services.