Palliative Care Service

The Palliative Care Service aims to improve the quality of life for patients with a life-limiting illness. We aim to reduce suffering through early identification, assessment and treatment of physical symptoms including pain.

We provide support that ensures the patient and their family’s psychological, spiritual, social and cultural needs are met.  We also aim to support and guide other health professionals already involved in the patient’s care including the primary care network and other specialty teams.

Our services

Our dedicated Palliative Care team of medical, nursing and allied health staff work closely with your healthcare team to provide you the best individualised care. Our aim is to make sure your goals of care are understood and respected. We offer:

• specialist consultation/liaison service
• an outpatient clinic
• 10-bed Inpatient Unit to address symptom management, psychosocial and spiritual support and end of life care when other locations are not possible (e.g. at home)
• support for advance care planning
• liaison and support to GPs and domiciliary nurses in the community
• referral to local palliative care services including inpatient units and community services
• education programs for other health professionals.

Community based palliative care

For people requiring community based support, there are a range of service providers available across Metro North Health. One option is the Metro North Community Palliative Care Service that can accept referrals from either your GP or other specialists. This community service has after-hours support for patients and their carers.

How to access this service

To access this service, your GP or medical specialist will need to send a referral letter to the hospital.

Outpatient clinic

We will contact you to arrange a suitable appointment date. If you are an inpatient at Caboolture Hospital, your treating doctor can make a referral to our consultation team to see you in hospital if required.

Direct admission to the unit

We will talk to your referring GP to determine whether you need an urgent admission to the unit. If there is a waiting list, we can provide further advice to your GP.

For patients at home, we will contact you on the day a bed is ready.

For patients already in hospital, we will contact your treating team.

All other admissions are via the Emergency Department.

What to bring