Palliative and hospice care services
Support across Geelong and the South West
The consortium’s member health agencies within the Barwon South Western Region offer a wide range of palliative and hospice care services for people with life-limiting illnesses, their families and carers.
From people wanting to receive palliative care within their own home, to those in an inpatient environment, expert staff will help you find the option that best suits your individual circumstances.
Because palliative care takes a holistic, whole-person approach, the services are also there to support family, friends and carers as well as aiding health professionals to help their clients achieve the best quality of life possible.
Services cover a wide range including health care, emotional support, advice, referrals and education programs. For more information on palliative care services across the region, please contact the consortium.
Palliative services include:
Community palliative care: Offered by the six consortium members across the region, it provides holistic care and support in people’s homes or outpatient clinics. This whole-person approach encompasses a range of support and care including nursing care, respite, symptom management assessment, allied health care, advice and equipment.
Inpatient palliative care: Provided in hospitals, aged-care facilities and hospices, the service is for patients with complex issues with symptom and pain management or those needing end-of-life care. Inpatient palliative care is available through Barwon Health, Colac Area Health, Portland District Health, South West Healthcare and Western District Health Service.
Acute palliative care consultancy team: Based at University Hospital Geelong, this service is available to inpatients and people with outpatient appointments across the health organisation’s acute areas.
Delivered by a specialist team of palliative care medical and nursing staff, its aims include giving pain and symptom management advice, assessment for both community and inpatient palliative care services and medical reviews. It is an expert support for treating teams to use.
Regional palliative care consultancy: Barwon Health and South West Healthcare provide teams for specialist consultations to health professionals working in palliative care across the Barwon South Western Region.
Aimed at enhancing patient care, the consultancy service makes patient assessments and recommendations and is a strong support to providers of palliative care services.
After-hours assistance: Access to after-hours support for palliative care patients, their families and carers needing help.
Outpatient clinics: Provide a multi-disciplinary approach to assessment, planning and care management for people diagnosed with a life-threatening illness who are beginning their palliative care journey.
Grief and bereavement services: Providing support for the client and their carers, including family.
Palliative care education programs: Provided for carers, volunteers as well as health professionals.