Hospital Map (15kb, pdf) What is Palliative Care?
Palliative Care is a concept of care which involves the patient and his/her carers in working towards achieving the maximum quality of life for patients suffering from terminal illness. This is achieved by helping to relieve the physical, emotional, spiritual and social stresses of illness for both patients and their carers.
Palliative Care:
- Affirms life and regards dying as a normal process
- Neither hastens or postpones death
- provides relief from pain and other distressing symptoms
- Integrates the psychological and spiritual aspects of patient care
- Offers a support system to help patients live as actively as possible until death
- Offers a support system to help the family cope both during the patient's illness and in their bereavement.
Western District Health Service aims to make Palliative Care available to people within the Shire of Southern Grampians, and Casterton, who have reached a stage in their illness when curative treatment is no longer considered appropriate.
Once admitted to the Palliative Care Service, the patient receives care according to his/her specific need. It may be that initially only minimal help from the service is necessary.
Alternatively, in the advanced stage of terminal illness, immediate intense attention may be required. Patients and carers receive coordinated medical support, nursing care, home assistance, equipment loan and counseling services. They have access to specialist nursing and allied health services as required. Trained volunteers are available to visit and support clients and their carers.
Contact:
Hours of Service: Monday to Friday, 8am to 4.30pm
Phone: 03 55518359
How can the Palliative Service be obtained?
To receive nursing care from the Palliative Care/District Nursing Service, you will require a referral from your local practitioner or referring hospital, or direct contact may be made with the service.
Further information about Palliative Care can be found by clicking on the links below:
29-Mar-2010
ABN: 47 616 976 917