| Palliative Care |
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The Melbourne Health Palliative Care Service is a consultative service based at The Royal Melbourne Hospital - City Campus. It advises and adds to the range of services already being provided to patients and their treating units, working with specialists, nursing and allied health staff.
Palliative Care
The Royal Melbourne Hospital - City Campus
Grattan Street, Parkville 3050
Victoria Australia
Referrals and inquiries
During office hours Monday to Friday 8.30am - 4.30pm
Telephone 9342 7820 or via switchboard 9342 7000
Facsimile 9342 4928
Email brian.le@mh.org.au
Online i-referral (internal)
RMH City Campus Consultant Round: Mon pm, Wed am, Fri am
RMH Royal Park Campus: by appointment
Staff
Brian Le, Manager
Marian Allison, Clinical Nurse Consultant
James Watt, Clinical Nurse Consultant
About Us
Overall, the service aims to:
- Provide timely palliative medical and nursing advice and care
- Ensure appropriate discharge planning and referral of patients to community Palliative Care Services, inpatient palliative care units/hospices
- Be a link for patients' general practitioners, community service providers and the hospital
- Teach, mentor and provide palliative care education to health care professionals
The Palliative Care Service is available to provide advice on:
- Symptom assessment and management
- Recognising and managing the dying/terminal phase and supporting staff in this process
- Assisting with discussions regarding patient prognosis and trajectory of illness progression
- Helping in the decision-making process when cessation or non-commencement of treatment is being considered
- Assisting to manage issues surrounding fluid and food management, modification or cessation
- Assisting to manage issues surrounding medication rationalisation/cessation
- Assisting with discussions surrounding advanced care planning and power of medical attorney appointment
What is Palliative Care
Palliative care provides co-ordinated medical, nursing and allied services for people who have a progressive, life-threatening and/or life-ending illness.
It strives to provide physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual support for patients and their carers, and enables, where possible, for care to be given in the environment of their choice, whether that is at home, in an aged care facility, in a hospital or in a specialised palliative care unit.
Palliative care:
- Affirms life and regards dying as a normal process
- Provides relief from pain and other distressing symptoms
- Integrates the psychological, emotional 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 during the patient's illness and in their own bereavement
Where are Palliative Care Services provided
Palliative Care Service s are provided in the home, aged care facilities, specialised inpatient palliative care units, and hospitals. People who are dying need to be able to move freely between these places, in response to their medical care and support needs.
The pattern of care will be different for every individual, and may depend on factors such as location, services in the area, and the needs and desires of the patient, their family members and friends.
In general, palliative care is best provided within close proximity to the person's local environment and community. | 
