About palliative care
The Western Sydney palliative care service provides person-centred care for people with serious or life-limiting illnesses. The service supports people and their families to live as comfortably and independently as possible, whether or not active treatment is being provided.
Care includes both supportive care to improve quality of life and end-of-life care when specific treatments are no longer suitable.
A team of health professionals works together to meet each person’s needs. Care is coordinated by registered nurses through case management and care navigation. They are supported by:
- clinical nurse specialists
- palliative care medical specialists
- allied health professionals.
To be eligible, the patient must meet all the following criteria:
- lives within the Western Sydney LHD area
- has agreed to the referral after being consulted
- has a life-limiting condition and:
- needs assessment or help managing complex symptoms, or
- has a short prognosis, or
- has an advanced and progressing condition that needs palliative or end-of-life care support.
The community palliative care team includes a range of qualified health professionals who provide coordinated, person-centred care in the community.
We offer clinic and home-based support from the following professionals:
- community nurses (clinic and home visiting services)
- palliative care staff specialists and registrars
- bereavement counsellor
- social worker
- clinical psychologist
- occupational therapist
- physiotherapist
- dietitian
- speech pathologist
- pharmacist
- interpreters (available on request).
Operating times:
The Western Sydney LHD Community Palliative Care Service is available to patients 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Service hours include:
- Nursing services: available 7 days a week from 7am to 10pm, based on health care needs and clinical priority.
- Allied health services: Monday to Friday, 8am to 4.30pm.
- Virtual care and telephone support: available 7 days a week from 10pm to 7am.
The service uses a flexible model of care, which may include:
- home visits
- appointments at outpatient clinics or Community Health Centres
- support in residential aged care facilities
- Direct admission to Palliative Care Units or hospital Emergency Departments when complex needs require hospital care.
People receiving care may also have access to free equipment hire to help them stay safely at home where possible.
Medical care is provided in collaboration with each person’sgeneral practitioner (GP) or medical specialist. This partnership ensures that the GP remains involved and informed throughout the person’s care.
Western Sydney LHD acknowledges Sorry Business and offers programs to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples at the end of life. Our approach is based on:
- cultural respect – recognising that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives on death and dying may differ from mainstream perspectives
- clear and respectful communication
- building community capacity
- strong relationships and partnerships.
We also provide a specialist palliative care unit for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Find out more about our palliative care services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Specialist palliative care teams are based at:
To refer a patient to the Community Palliative Care Service, contact the Central Referral Service:
Phone: 1800 600 681 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm)
Email: WSLHD-CommunityHealth-ReferralService@health.nsw.gov.au
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