Community Palliative Care

The Community Palliative Care Service provides care for people who have a life limiting illness with little or no prospect of a cure, and for whom the primary treatment goal is quality of life. The aim of CPCS is to support end of life care within the home care setting. Additionally, the service advises your treating GP or specialist and domiciliary nursing services of your palliative care needs.

Our services

Community Palliative Care (CPCS) is a community-based service which provides:

• Specialist symptom medical management from our specialised Palliative Care Consultants and Registrars – Providing support for at home, end of life care, for patients in the community with a limited life expectancy, and for whom the primary treatment goal is quality of life.  
• Specialist palliative care Nursing and Allied Health – An initial full assessment is completed by nursing staff; home visits are negotiated with the patient and family/carer based on physical and psychosocial needs.
• CPCS also provides patients with 24hr support and telehealth services.
• CPCS aims to support and work collaboratively with our patients GP’s, other primary health care providers and their domiciliary services. We encourage patients to continue to liaise with their General Practitioners (GP’s) for regular reviews and any ongoing prescriptions required.
• Community Palliative Care Service maintains a close working relationship with the specialist inpatient and outpatient units at the public and private hospitals within our catchment.

Categories for referral

To be accepted to the Palliative Care Service you must identify with the following:

• Limited life expectancy of weeks to short months
• Complex symptom burden associated with disease and unresolved by generalist care
• Inability to attend clinics
• Accepted under the governance of one of the CPCS Palliative Consultants

NOTE: If your patient does not meet the above criteria, please contact the CPCS medical team on the service number to discuss further.

Referrals

You will need a referral from your treating Medical Officer (General Practitioner or Specialist) for admission to the service. Our clinical support team will help you to access the services you need and answer your questions.

• Palliative Care Referral and Clinical Handover – Metro North Hospital and Health Service

Community Palliative Care - Patient centred care

Please view our latest video about Community Palliative Care which explores the experiences of one of our patients and families.