Palliative care support line for clinicians

Statewide 24/7 palliative care support line (for clinician use only) 1300 673 122

A dedicated support phone line is now available 24 hours a day, seven days a week – as part of a 12-month statewide trial.

Who can use the support line

This phone line provides support for clinicians with a palliative care caseload who require advice for their patients from a Palliative Care Consultant.

The support line is for clinicians including:

  • general practitioners
  • community palliative care teams
  • medical staff in regional and metropolitan local health networks
  • level 2 and 4 rural services palliative care nursing staff
  • nurse practitioners with a palliative care caseload

Where clinicians have an existing relationship with a specialist palliative care service, they should continue to contact them directly as per their normal communication channels.

Support line aims

This new phone line for clinicians aims to expand timely community access to palliative treatment services. This will help to optimise a patient’s palliative care experience and deliver care closer to their home, thereby also reducing stress on carers and lowering the risk of hospital admission for symptom management. Clinicians may also seek assistance with their patient’s medication, pain management and other health concerns.

Processes, including after hours

Health professionals are asked to use the following process, particularly after hours:

  • If you know how to contact your Specialist Palliative Care Service directly, please call them as you would normally.
  • If you are unsure of the Specialist Palliative Care Service required, please ring the statewide 24/7 palliative care support line on 1300 673 122. An operator will direct you to the relevant Palliative Care Consultant for advice based on your patient’s location.

Support line is not intended for

  • consumers, carers and the community, who should continue to access palliative care clinical support through their GP or health service.
  • ambulance services, who should go through their normal channels to escalate any concerns for patient care.

Background

This initiative has been funded from the State Government’s $16 million palliative care election commitment and is hosted by the Rural Support Service in partnership with the Department for Health and Wellbeing and the Commission on Excellence and Innovation in Health’s Palliative Care Clinical Network.

The State Government is committed to more effectively supporting people requiring palliative care through:

  • expanding community outreach palliative care services from the current weekday service to provide a 24-hour service, 7 days a week
  • undertaking a statewide assessment of palliative care needs (PDF 690KB)
  • establishing a statewide clinical network for palliative care which will undertake the urgent task of co-designing and delivering a new Palliative Care Services Plan.