Palliative Care information and resources

 

Victoria's Palliative Care Advice Service

The Palliative Care Advice Service (PCAS) provides Victorians with specialist palliative care information, guidance and support. A Victorian Department of Health initiative hosted by The Royal Melbourne Hospital, the service provides free confidential advice when living with or caring for someone with life-limiting illness, palliative or end of life care needs.

Specialist doctors and nurses are available to assist clinicians, patients, carers and families with:

• what to expect and plan for
• how to have conversations about palliative care
• how to provide practical care to those with a life-limiting illness
• recognising deterioration and end of life
• developing symptom management plans
• converting oral medications to injectable and when to use a syringe driver
• finding local support throughout Victoria.

The service is also available to all Victoria-based healthcare providers.

PCAS can be contacted daily 7am‑10pm on 1800 360 000.

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Changes to PBS listing of morphone and oxycodone oral solutions

The Department of Health and Aged Care has made changes to the listing of a number of critical palliative care drugs on the PBS. The changes allow pharmacists to dispense volumes smaller than a whole bottle at PBS subsidised prices. The changes were effective from 1 February 2023. The changes being implemented mirror those made on 1 August 2022 to the listing of oral solution containing hydromorphone hydrochloride. More information here

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Palliative Care and Advance Care Planning: Current Practices in Victorian Cancer Services 

The Victorian Integrated Cancer Services has published a new report with important implications for anyone working in advance care planning, palliative care and end-of-life care.  The report makes 18 recommendations to address variations in:

• the timing of access to palliative care and advance care planning,
• collection and storage of data
• promotion of palliative care services
• processes
• models of care
• research and quality improvement activities

Download the report        

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The Palliative Care Education Directory (PaCE)

Using an App on a smartphone, tablet or desktop, educators and health and aged care providers can access the PaCE resource directory. Have ready access to palliative care education and training resources provided by the Collaborative and other National Palliative Care Projects (NPCPs).

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Supporting Inclusive End of Life Care Companion Guides

The ELDAC (End of Life Directions for Aged Care) Supporting Inclusive End of Life Care companion guides are designed to assist aged care providers to offer culturally safe and inclusive end of life care by providing information, guidance and links to key resources. The companion guides support key resources developed by the Australian Government Department of Health: Aged Care Diversity Framework, Provider Action Plans and the Specialisation Verification Framework. 

The companion guides are not stand-alone resources and should be used in conjunction with these essential documents. These are available for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples; Culturally and Linguistically Diverse People; and LGBTQI+ People. 

Visit the ELDAC website for more information.

CHAP (Comprehensive Health Assessment Program) - Improving the health of adults with intellectual disability Apply for a free licence to use the CHAP tool in Australia. CHAP is a tool designed to prompt a comprehensive health assessment for adults with intellectual disability. This may help doctors make better diagnoses, provide appropriate treatment and ultimately ensure overall better health. The CHAP tool is a two-part questionnaire requiring collaboration between the person with the intellectual disability, their supporter and their GP. Recognised by leading international researchers, it has been validated through several Australian studies. Learn more here. FREE Home Care App for care workers ELDAC have launched a new Home Care App which provides practical tips and support for home care workers to care for their clients’ changing needs as they reach the end of life. The app is available to download for free from the Apple App store or Google Play store. End of life care for trans and gender diverse people Hospice UK have published the I just want to be me report that uses real-world experience to understand and inform how trans and gender diverse people access and understand end of life care. Highlighting the needs of these communities it sets out recommendations for what hospices and palliative care professionals can do to make end of life care more equal and accessible for everyone.

Flying Doctor Memory Lane program

Memory Lane is a free service that assists people in palliative care to visit a place in Victoria of significance to them. The transport is via the Royal Flying Doctor Service's 2 purpose built road vehicles and experienced RFDS Patient Transport Officers volunteer their time for the journeys.

Flying Doctor Memory Lane journeys are available for clients who meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Aged 18 years or older.
• Have a terminal diagnosis and are currently receiving palliative or end-of-life care (as confirmed by GP or treating specialist). 
• Require specialised medical transport to revisit their place of personal significance. 
• If clients have complex health needs beyond the abilities of our volunteers, we ask that a qualified health practitioner accompany them on the journey. 
• Clients must have the approval of their lead clinician prior to undertaking the journey. 

Visit the RFDS website for more information and to make a booking.

Flying-Doctor-Memory-Lane-Leaflet.pdf (2MB)

CareSearch Evidence Centre

 

CareSearch has updated and expanded its Evidence Centre.

This is a place for people to find, learn about, and work with palliative care evidence. An authoritative, practical, and foundational resource to support best practice and improving care. 

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Dementia Toolkit for aged care staff

With more than two thirds of aged care residents having moderate to severe cognitive impairment, how much do your staff know about dementia? ELDAC's new Dementia Toolkit provides information and guidance to support palliative care and advance care planning with information on Clinical Care and Education and Learning to help aged care staff improve their knowledge, skills, and confidence in caring for people living with dementia and their families.

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