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Specialist palliative care
Specialist palliative care
Some people with a life-limiting illness require specialist palliative care provided by health professionals with expertise in symptom control and psychological, social, spiritual and cultural care.
Specialist palliative care supports people of any age who are experiencing severe or complex symptoms due to a life-limiting illness. A referral is required to access specialist palliative care services.
Only some people who die will access specialist palliative care. People who pass away quickly due to severe injury or illness may not require or be able to access palliative care. Some people may not choose to access palliative care, or it may not be appropriate for them. Specialist palliative care staff are trained with specific skills and knowledge to help you, your family and carers. They have expertise in symptom management and emotional, spiritual, practical and cultural care.
Queensland has a range of specialist palliative care services available, offering advice, information, referral, and support for people with life-threatening illnesses, their families, friends, carers, and health professionals.
To access specialist palliative care services, you must receive a referral. Speak to your healthcare providers to request a referral or learn more about palliative care services available in your area.
Where palliative care is delivered
Palliative care may be provided in your home, hospital, palliative care unit, residential aged care facility or hospice.
Find more information about care at the end of life:
at home or in the community
in a hospital or residential aged care facility, including private, hospice or respite care.
Cost of palliative care
If you have a Medicare card, palliative care delivered by Queensland Health is generally free. You may have to pay for the hire of some specialist equipment, medications, dressings, services and treatments. Speak with your palliative care team or GP for more information about these costs.
You may incur costs if you choose to receive extra services beyond what Queensland Health provides.
There will be extra fees if you access palliative care in a private hospital, but Medicare and private health insurance rebates may apply. Always check with your private insurance company and care providers to learn more about your options and the potential fees.
Locating palliative care services
Locating palliative care services
The National Palliative Care Service Directory provides information about specialist medical, nursing or allied health palliative care service providers, organisations and community support agencies.
Palliative_Care_Is_More_Than_You_Think_Poster.pdf
Palliative care is healthcare that focuses on improving the quality of life and care for people with a life-limiting illness and families.
It includes:
the prevention and relief of suffering
communication about goals of care
the early identification, assessment and treatment of physical, psychological, emotional, social and spiritual symptoms.
Palliative care does not aim to slow down or speed up the dying process. Rather, it helps people live as actively as possible until death by enhancing their quality of life.
You do not need to stop other treatments while receiving palliative care, but you can choose to if you wish.
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Palliative Care, Queensland
Palliative Care, Queensland
We were founded in 1988 and have since committed ourselves to supporting the individuals, families, carers, community members, and specialist and generalist healthcare professionals who need access to trusted, considerate palliative care in Queensland.
Palliative care focuses on improving the quality of life of those who are living with a life-limiting illness by helping to prevent and relieve pain, whether it be physical, psychological, or spiritual. It also provides support to family and loved ones.
Support for palliative care
Support for palliative care
We work with various stakeholders to improve the palliative care experience for residents of the North Brisbane and Moreton Bay region.
Under the Greater Choice for At Home Palliative Care measure, Brisbane North PHN is working to:
Strengthen the Brisbane North Community Palliative Care Collaborative, an active group of stakeholders aiming to enhance service responsiveness, integration, quality, and care coordination through networking, information exchange, and joint problem-solving.
Implement the co-designed Palliative Care in Community Pharmacy action plan to increase the capacity and capability of community pharmacists in supporting safe, quality palliative care in the community.
Improving equitable access to at-home palliative care for people living with disability through the design and implementation of a co-designed action plan.
Undertake workforce support and engagement activities to improve workers' skills, knowledge, and confidence in supporting quality at-home palliative care in the Brisbane North PHN region, including education sessions and resources to help navigation and sector knowledge.
Karuna Hospice Services.
Karuna Hospice Services.
The following contacts are either for the support groups themselves, or for the organisations that can help you to access support.
There are many support groups available for carers. Each state and territory association will offer support groups of some kind.
Use these links to find practical support or services in the Queensland (QLD), or to put you in touch with support groups.
PalAssist is a free Queensland telephone and online service for palliative care patients, carers, family and friends seeking practical information and emotional support.
Call 1800 772 273 (from 7am to 7pm, 7 days), search for palliative care services in your area, or you can chat online.
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