Specialist Palliative Care Service
About our service
What we do
Our goal is to achieve the best quality of life for people living with and dying from a life-limiting illness. The primary goal is to maintain quality of life in a way that is meaningful to patients. Palliative care is provided for patients with cancer and non-cancer diagnoses.
Who we are
Our team works closely with the patient’s specialists and GP. The team includes nurses, doctors, Aboriginal health professionals, social workers, dietitians, occupational therapists, exercise physiologists, physiotherapists, speech therapists, psychologists, pharmacists, pastoral care, bereavement counsellors and volunteers. Our service prioritises residents, their families and carers of the Sydney Local Health District, and also those receiving care in SLHD who live outside the District.
Specialist Palliative Care is delivered through a range of coordinated services, including:
- Concord Centre for Palliative Care - Inpatient Unit (CCPC-IPU)
- Inpatient beds at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
- Community Palliative Care Service, caring for patients at home and in Residential Aged Care Homes (RACH)
- Outpatient Clinics
- Palliative Care for Advanced Disease Program (PCAD) for non-cancer
- Hospital consultation service
- Aboriginal Palliative Care Program
- Dedicated Volunteer Program
- Pastoral Care Program
- Bereavement Counselling Service
We may collect, use and disclose health and personal information for approved research and quality improvement purposes that aim to improve patient outcomes and improve service provision.
For more information, refer to Patient Information Privacy.
How to refer
For health professionals
Prior to referring a patient for SLHD Specialist Palliative Care, it is recommended the referral criteria and reasons for referral provided below are considered. General Practitioners and Specialists can refer to this Service.
Referral Criteria:
The patient has a progressive or life limiting disease (malignant and/or non-malignant) and any of the following:
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The patient has symptoms that require specialist assessment/management, and which are beyond the capacity of the primary care team to manage.
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The patient and/or their family have psychological, social or spiritual needs that require specialist assessment.
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The patient is dying, and the primary care team requires additional support and/or advice.
All referrals to our consultation and palliative care unit require completion of the referral by Specialist or GP. The referral can be completed using HealthPathways Engage Outpatients (for GPs) or completing our form.
NB: Patients who are having life prolonging treatment are not excluded from referral to palliative care. All referred patients will be triaged and seen in order of clinical need. If you feel the patient requires urgent review, please call the registrars of the relevant hospitals.
Contact
Concord Hospital:
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Phone: 02 9767 5000
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Inpatient
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Phone: 02 9767 8230
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Outpatient
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Phone: 02 9767 5769 or 02 9767 6799
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Royal Prince Alfred Hospital:
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Phone: 02 9515 6111
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Outpatient Clinics
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Phone: 02 9515 7755
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Canterbury Hospital:
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Phone: 02 9153 2000
Balmain Hospital:
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Phone: 02 9395 2111
- For all new and after-hours referrals, contact the Palliative Care Staff Specialist on call via Concord Hospital switchboard 02 9767 5000.
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For patients known to the Palliative Care service, contact the known treating Staff Specialist (0800hrs - 1630hrs)
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Once the patient has been accepted by a Palliative Care Staff Specialist, complete our form.
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Sydney District Nursing provides palliative care community nursing for patients living within SLHD.
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Referrals are through completing our form.
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Patients must be known to either a SLHD Palliative Care Specialist or Sydney District Nursing
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To refer, complete a referral for a SLHD Specialist Palliative Care Medical Consult or Sydney District Nursing and discuss with the relevant health professional regarding allied health needs (see above).
- Email referrals to SLHD-PCAD@health.nsw.gov.au
- Contact Access Care Team (ACT) on 1300 722 276 (8am-8pm, 7 days) or email SLHD-ACTCallCentre@health.nsw.gov.au
For patients and families
If you live in SLHD, speak to your General Practitioner (GP) or Specialist if you would like a referral to any of the SLHD Specialist Palliative Care services.
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Our Bereavement Counselling Service is available only to families/carers residing within SLHD boundaries
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This service requires self-referral by calling 02 9767 5656.
Our team
We are a multidisciplinary team committed to delivering holistic care that supports comfort, dignity and quality of life for patients, families and carers.
Our team includes:
Our specialist palliative care doctors and nurses focus on improving comfort and quality of life for people with life-limiting illnesses.
They provide:
- Complex symptom management such as pain and breathlessness
- Support with information on treatment options
- Advance care planning
Sydney Virtual Hospital – Sydney District Nursing generalist nurses provide palliative care in the community with specialist palliative care clinical nurse consultants and clinical nurse specialists.
Our team includes access to:
- Social Workers
- Physiotherapists
- Exercise Physiologists
- Occupational Therapists
- Clinical Psychologists
- Dietitians
- Speech Pathologists
The Community Palliative Care Pharmacist provides medication management and support for patients under the Specialist Palliative Care Service in the community.
This may include:
- Medication reconciliation
- Working with General Practitioners, Community Pharmacies and Community Doctors for safe prescribing and dispensing of palliative care medications
- Working with hospital pharmacies to support safe discharges
The Aboriginal Palliative Care Program is a culturally safe and holistic approach to end-of-life care tailored to meet the unique needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
This program:
- Acknowledges traditional cultural practices as part of “Sorry Business”
- Advocates for culturally safe, patient-led care
- Supports families to make informed decisions while honouring cultural identity
Our Pastoral Care Coordinator provides emotional and spiritual support to patients and their loved ones. Pastoral conversations are directed by the patient’s beliefs, values or traditions, not necessarily religion.
Our volunteers play an important role in enhancing the care experience for patients and their families in hospital and at home. Learn more about our Volunteer Program.
They offer:
- Social visits and companionship
- Respite for carers
- Complementary therapies e.g. massage therapy, diversional therapy, pet therapy etc.
- Biography writing
- Assistance with approved tasks
Our Bereavement Counselling Service offers confidential counselling support to adults who live in, or who are bereaved of someone who has died in, SLHD, as well as to our staff. Learn more about our Bereavement Counselling Service.
Our services
The Concord Centre for Palliative Care - Inpatient Unit (CCPC-IPU) has 20 beds.
Admission to CCPC- IPU is offered for complex palliative care needs that require a multidisciplinary approach including:
- Symptom management
- Psychological, social and functional concerns
- End of life care in the last few days to weeks of life
Royal Prince Alfred Hospital has inpatient palliative care beds.
This team supports the medical and surgical teams in caring for patients admitted to SLHD hospitals. Patients remain under the care of their admitting specialist.
The role of the consult team includes:
- Managing complex psychological, social and physical symptoms including pain, shortness of breath, nausea and constipation
- Advance care planning
- Improving end-of-life care in the hospital through education, leadership and research
- Arranging appropriate palliative care follow up in the community once discharged from hospital
Patients are referred by their admitting team. Speak to your team if you would like a referral to see the Palliative Care team.
Community palliative care services are available to provide community-based palliative care at home, including Residential Aged Care Homes, to people living in SLHD boundaries.
The role of the Community team includes:
- Monitoring and managing complex symptoms
- Patient and carer education
- Advance care planning Liaising with GP and other specialists
- Facilitating end of life care at home
- Arranging services to support at the patient at home
- Arranging volunteers to provide respite and companionship at home
- Patients need a referral from a GP or specialist
- Multidisciplinary Clinics also provide short-term intervention that allow patients to have early access to palliative care allied health to improve symptom management and support care planning. These clinics are located at Concord Hospital and RPA Health One (Green Square). The patient must be known to the SLHD Specialist Palliative Care Service through a valid medical referral.
- Palliative Care for Advance Disease (PCAD) is a service for patients with a life-limiting illness not due to cancer (hyperlink to Heading 10)
- Bereavement Counselling clinics
- Clinical Psychology clinics
Contact:
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Phone: 02 9767 6799
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Concord Centre for Palliative Care - Inpatient Unit (CCPC-IPU)
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Phone: 02 9767 8230
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Outpatient
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Phone: 02 97675769 or 02 97676799
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Our services:
- Palliative care consult service providing support to medical and surgical teams managing admitted patients
- Outpatient palliative care clinics (Rusty Priest Building 60)
- Multidisciplinary Clinics (Rusty Priest Building 60)
- Exercise classes for palliative patients (Rusty Priest Building 60)
- PCAD Clinical Psychology Clinic (Building 42)
- Bereavement counselling services (Building 75, Level 2)
- Concord Centre for Palliative Care - Inpatient Unit (CCPC – IPU)
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Complex symptom management
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Respite care where no alternative exists, subject to bed availability
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End of life care in the last few days to weeks of life
- Care is provided by specialist palliative care doctors, nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, exercise physiologists, clinical psychologists, pastoral care and volunteers
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Learn more here: CCPC Brochure (hyperlink to brochure)
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Concord Centre for Palliative Care Day Unit and Gym (Building 83)
Where we are located:
Contact:
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Phone: 02 9515 7755
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Outpatient Clinics
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Phone: 02 9515 7755
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Our services:
- Palliative care consult service providing support to medical and surgical teams managing admitted patients
- Inpatient palliative care beds
- Outpatient palliative care clinics
- Bereavement counselling services
Where we are located – RPA Hospital and Clinics Scott Skirving
Hospital map, parking and transport
RPA Health One Green Square
Our services:
- Exercise classes led by a palliative care exercise physiologist
- Multidisciplinary Clinics
- Bereavement counselling services
Where we are located:
Contact:
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Phone: 02 9153 2000 (Call the hospital switchboard and ask for Palliative Care)
Our services:
- Palliative care consult service providing support to medical and surgical teams managing admitted patients
- Palliative Care Medical Clinic
- Palliative Care for Advanced Disease (PCAD) for non-cancer
Where we are located:
This service involves palliative care clinical consultant nurses who provide specialist palliative care advice and support to people living in Residential Aged Care Homes within SLHD.
The service aims to:
- Assist in the identification of palliative care needs
- Assist with referral to specialist palliative care services or consultation
- Assist providers to work collaboratively with specialist palliative care
Community palliative care services are available to provide community-based palliative care to people living in SLHD. The Team works with the patient’s General Practitioner (GP) to support patients and their carers in maintaining quality of life, comfort and dignity in their own homes. Home visits can be completed by palliative care doctors, nurses, allied health, pharmacists, aboriginal health workers and volunteers.
The role of the Community team includes:
- Monitoring and managing complex symptoms
- Patient and carer education
- Advance care planning discussions
- Liaising with GP and other specialists
- Facilitating end of life care at home
- Arranging services to support at the patient at home
- Arranging volunteers to provide respite and companionship at home
Sydney Virtual Hospital - Sydney District Nursing are core to our community palliative care team with care provided by generalist nurses with specialist palliative care clinical nurse consultants and clinical nurse specialists.
Sydney Virtual Hospital also provide an After-Hours Palliative Care Advice Line through the Virtual Care Centre for patients linked in with Sydney District Nursing. This service provides:
- Access to on call medical palliative care team via a nurse
- Advice on medication management
- Assessment and advice on symptoms and deteriorating condition
- Support for family and carers for death at home
- Reduce unnecessary presentations to emergency departments
- Handover to in-hours teams
Contact Sydney Virtual Hospital:
- Phone: 1800 433 893
- After Hours Palliative Care Advice Line: 1300 936 350
PCAD is for patients and their families and carers facing advanced non-cancer diseases such as liver disease, heart disease and lung disease. There is a separate Renal Supportive Care service for those with chronic kidney disease.
PCAD is delivered through nurse-led clinics within existing respiratory, cardiac and liver outpatient services in SLHD hospitals. It focuses on symptom management, advance care planning, collaborative care and integrating palliative care into existing outpatient services.
Contact:
Email referrals to: SLHD-PCAD@health.nsw.gov.au
Our research
SLHD Specialist Palliative Care leads a program of translational research to improve outcomes for patients and carers and is committed to providing best practice evidence-based care. This includes opportunities to participate in research and clinical trials to improve care, quality of life and symptom control. We welcome expressions of interest from patients, carers, consumers and collaborators who would like to contribute to this important program of work.