Palliative Care

Our service provides specialist medical and advanced nursing support. Patients may be seen in their own homes, residential aged care facilities, outpatient clinics or within regional health services.

In addition to the face to face patient contact, the GRPCT also undertakes health promotion and delivery of education throughout the region and acts as a resource to multidisciplinary teams. The team also leads and participates in research.

Anybody caring for a person with a life limiting illness can make a referral. Referral may be appropriate at any stage of an illness that is: advanced,  progressive, incurable and potentially life-limiting.
Referrals should be based on needs not prognosis, remembering not all dying patients need a referral to palliative care.

Fax the Grampians Regional Palliative Care Team referral form to Central Intake on 5320 3893 or phone the GRPCT triage phone 0408 612 699. General Practitioners can also fax a letter. It is important to be thorough and provide comprehensive information in the referral

To the Palliative Care Outpatient Clinics with Referral Letter to Palliative Care Clinic form or MR/005.98 or MR/005.99 faxed to 5320 3080

Referrals will be triaged for Clinical Nurse Consultant, Nurse Practitioners or Palliative Care Physician.

Admissions/Waiting list for Gandarra: patients are reviewed by GRPCT and then placed on the waiting list

Dr Penny Cotton says palliative care is about supporting patients who have a life limiting or terminal illness to live as well as they can, no matter where they are in the Grampians region.

Watch the video below for more information from Dr Cotton.