What is Palliative Care?
Palliative Care is a multi-disciplinary holistic concept of care for people living with an advanced, progressive potentially terminal illness. The aim of palliative care is to improve quality of life by providing physical, psychological and spiritual support for patients, their carers and their families.
Palliative care can support patients with a variety of illnesses including:
- Cancer
- Organ failure (cardiac failure, renal failure, liver failure, respiratory failure)
- Neurological conditions eg. life threatening stroke, motor neurone disease, dementia
Palliative Care should be available in:
- The person’s own home
- Hospital
- Palliative care inpatient unit
- Residential care (or nursing home)
Palliative services care work closely with other specialist carers and can be provided even if patients are having active treatment such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, dialysis etc.
Peninsula Health provides specialist palliative care through the Palliative Care Consultancy Service and the Peninsula Palliative Care Unit and an outpatients Supportive and Palliative Care Clinic.
Peninsula Health palliative care services work very closely with Peninsula Hospice Service who provide specialist palliative care in the patient’s own home.
Supportive Palliative Care Consultancy Service
Service Location
Frankston Hospital
Hastings Road
Frankston VIC 3199
Contact Details
Ph: (03) 9784 7232
About Supportive Palliative Care Consultancy Service
Based at Frankston Hospital the Palliative Care Consultancy Service was established in 1994 and is available to patients and families at all Peninsula Health sites.
The team includes clinical nurse consultants, pastoral care counselors and medical support to provide:
- specialist knowledge of support needs of patients, families and carers
- symptom management needs of palliative patients
- advice on and liaison with community palliative care services as part of discharge planning
- consultation with, advice and support of other professional carers at Peninsula Health
- support and advocacy in discussions regarding treatment choices in potentially life threatening situations
Supportive and Palliative Care Clinic
This clinic is for those with a life limiting illness with a focus on improving symptoms, quality of life, patient and carer support and linkage with community services.
At the clinic you will be seen by a Specialist Doctor and/or a Nurse consultant who can discuss concerns regarding the progress of your illness, treatments and how they affect your quality of life.
During your visit we can discuss plans to improve troublesome symptoms with you, your GP and other treating specialists.
We can also discuss increasing supports at home when appropriate.
The clinic is funded by the Medicare Benefits Scheme so you will need a referral from a doctor/Nurse Practitioner that must include their Medicare Provider Number.
Referring to the Supportive and Palliative Care Clinic can be via
Fax: (03) 9788 1879
Mail:
Supportive and Palliative Care Clinic
Frankston Hospital Outpatients
PO Box 52
Frankston 3199
Palliative Care Unit
The Palliative Care Unit is a modern purpose built 15 bed facility located at 125 Golf Links Road, Frankston that provides comprehensive care and support to patients in the advanced stages of progressive life-threatening illness, where care in the community is no longer appropriate.
Facilities for patients and families include a lounge room, overnight room, patient’s dining area and the sanctuary, a room for quiet reflection.
Support and counselling services and accommodation are available for patients’ families.
Contact:
(03) 9784 8600
Useful links:
Peninsula Hospice Service
Cancer Council Victoria
Palliative Care Victoria
Palliative Care Australia