The Supportive and Palliative Care Clinic is for patients with a life limiting illness. The clinic has a focus on improving symptoms, quality of life, patient and carer support and enhancing linkage with community services.
At the clinic patients will be seen by a specialist palliative care doctor and/or clinical nurse consultant.
This clinic IS NOT suitable for community palliative care referral, instead a referral should be made directly to the appropriate Community Palliative Care Service (eg Peninsula Home Hospice).
Referrals
Referrals: Referral addressed to named head of unit is preferred.
E-referral using the GP Referral Template located within the Mastercare Referralnet system is preferred.
For faxed referrals: FAX 9125 9846
Categories for appointment
| Clinical Description | Timeframe | |
|---|---|---|
| Category 1 Urgent | Severe symptoms or referring doctor requests urgent review | 7 days |
| Category 2 Routine | All other referrals | 14 days |
| Emergency | Emergency referrals are not an appropriate referral for this clinic. Instead a call should be made to the Palliative Care Consultant regarding admission to hospital or the Palliative Care Unit via Switchboard 9784 7777 |
Eligibility criteria
- Residents residing within the Peninsula Health geographical area
- Patients are known to have a life limiting, incurable illness and has palliative care needs
- The referring practitioner has explained the role of the Supportive and Palliative Care clinic and the patient/family is accepting of this
Exclusion criteria
- For patients requiring only community palliative care, a referral should be made directly to the appropriate Community Palliative Care Service (eg Peninsula Home Hospice)
- Patients residing outside the Peninsula Health geographical area
- Unable to attend the clinic, has transport issues or RACF patients
- Patient/family has not provided consent to referral
- Overseas Non Eligible patients must first contact Patient Liaison Office on 9784 8056 to make payment arrangements before booking can be made Receiving MND/ALS out-patients care
Alternative referral options
Patients requiring only community palliative care referral should be made to the appropriate Community Palliative Care Service (eg Peninsula Home Hospice)
- MND/ALS patients should be referred to the Statewide Progressive Neurological Disease Service at Bethlehem Hospital P 9595 3355
- Victorian Palliative Care Advice Service, offers free non-urgent advice: 1800 360 000 (0700 – 2200, 365 days a year)
- For RACF patients requiring advice, contact Peninsula Health Community Care (Residential In-reach) on 9788 1700, Palliative Care Consultant via Switchboard 9784 7777
- Patients requiring Palliative Care Unit admission should be discussed with Palliative Care Consultant via Switchboard 9784 7777
- Patients that have already been referred to ED should be discussed with Palliative Care Consultancy Service on 9784 7232
Make a referral
All referrals to this clinic must contain the following information.
Referral: Date of referral, Speciality, Referring practitioner, Provider Number, Referrer’s signature.
Patient Demographic: Full name, Date of birth, Postal address, Contact numbers, Medicare Number, Interpreter required.
Clinical: Reason for referral, Duration of symptoms, Management to date, Past medical history, Current medications, Allergies, Diagnostics as per referral guidelines X-ray results/reports must be within the last 6 months.
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