Palliative care in Western NSW

We offer palliative care services and support to enhance the quality of life for people with life-limiting or terminal illnesses.

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About our services

Palliative care in Western NSW LHD aims to provide a person-centred approach to end of life and palliative care, with a primary focus on ensuring all individuals have access to the best possible end of life and palliative care – no matter where they live, their condition, age or who they are.

The focus of this care is optimising the quality of life for individuals, their families and carers approaching and reaching the end of life, reducing suffering and promoting dignity.

This care is provided by a range of services and care providers, across settings including home and community, residential aged care, acute care facilities and multipurpose services, with a priority to provide care that is based on individual needs and preferences. This care is provided both face to face and through virtual technologies including telephone and video link.

How the Palliative Care team assists

Our Specialist Palliative Care Service uses a consultancy model for care, supporting primary care providers (GPs) and inpatient teams across our Western NSW LHD health facilities to provide high quality end of life and palliative care.

The service operates under a nurse led model, supported by Palliative Medicine, Allied Health, Aboriginal Health staff and Palliative Care Volunteers, and provides:

  • Recommendations and support (including a plan of care), to primary care providers in both the community and inpatient settings, including General Practitioners.
  • Liaison with metropolitan Specialist Palliative Care Services, when required, to assist in addressing complex patient care needs.
  • Education and training for primary care providers on palliative and end of life care to maintain and increase competency and confidence in managing care in the inpatient, aged care and community setting.
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Virtual care makes accessing palliative care easy

An overview of the role virtual care can play in palliative care.

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Video transcript

Virtual care makes accessing palliative care easy

Palliative care helps people with a serious illness that cannot be cured live their life as fully and as comfortably as possible.

When you are receiving palliative care or you are caring for someone that is, your palliative care team want to support you in ways you decide are best for you.

This could mean including some virtual care appointments in your care plan.

With virtual care, also known as Telehealth, you can see and speak with your healthcare team using your computer, tablet or a phone.

A virtual care appointment is like an in-person appointment without the travel.

It is used to support your existing face-to-face care.

With virtual care, your family and carers can take part in your appointment, even if they can't be with you in person.

And other members of your healthcare team can join the appointment too.

This might be:

  • your general practitioner
  • a community health nurse
  • an allied health professional such as a social worker or
  • occupational therapist
  • other specialist clinicians, or an interpreter.

Some days you might find it easier to have your appointments using virtual care.

It can be really helpful when you are tired, don't feel like travelling or spending a long time in a waiting room.

You might also be able to get quicker access to specialist palliative care with a virtual care appointment.

However, you may prefer to meet with your healthcare team face-to-face, and we support that too.

Speak with your palliative care team to find out how virtual care can support you.

Contacting our team

Our specialist palliative care teams operate Monday to Friday, 8:30am – 5pm and serve the following communities:

Bathurst

Phone:(02) 6330 5347

Communities included:

  • Bathurst
  • Blayney
  • Millthorpe
  • Oberon
Dubbo

Phone: (02) 6809 6584

Communities included:

  • Baradine
  • Bourke
  • Brewarrina
  • Cobar
  • Collarenebri
  • Coonabarabran
  • Coonamble
  • Dubbo (including the private hospital and residential aged care facilities)
  • Gilgandra
  • Gulargambone
  • Lightning Ridge
  • Narromine
  • Nyngan
  • Trangie
  • Walgett
  • Warren
  • Wellington
Lachlan

Phone:

Communities included:

  • Condobolin
  • Forbes
  • Parkes
  • Peak Hill
  • Tottenham
  • Trundle
  • Tullamore
Mudgee

Phone:(02) 6371 9826

Communities included:

  • Coolah
  • Dunedoo
  • Gulgong
  • Kandos
  • Mudgee
  • Rylstone
Orange

Phone: (02) 6369 3371

Communities included:

  • Canowindra
  • Cowra
  • Cumnock
  • Eugowra
  •  Grenfell
  • Molong
  • Orange
  • Yeoval

Palliative Care After Hours Helpline

The helpline, managed and operated by Healthdirect Australia, will provide professional assistance during the after-hours period for palliative care patients, their carers, families and health professionals.

The Palliative Care After Hours Helpline is available Monday to Sunday and public holidays, 5pm – 9am.

Phone: 1800 548 225

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