Community Palliative Care

We provide supportive care and palliative care services including symptom control, end of life care and bereavement support to people with a serious life-limiting illness, their carers and families.

The person with a serious life-limiting illness is placed at the centre of our care transitioning from disease-specific therapy to a focus on comfort, dignity, and quality of life.

About the service

Referrals & Enquiries

About the service

The WSLHD Community Palliative Care Service encompasses the full scope of palliative care, which includes supportive care aimed at maximising the quality of life for clients and their families where specific treatments may be being provided. It will also include the provision of end of life care where there may be no specific treatments or interventions in place, related to their overall disease progression and symptom burden.

Care for the person with a serious life-limiting illness is provided by Registered Nurses though case management and care navigation, supported by Clinical Nurse Specialists, Palliative Care Medical Specialists and Allied Health.

The service will be delivered as a mixed model that includes but not limited to:

  • Home visits
  • Outpatient clinics/Community Health Centres as per person’s capacity/preference
  • Virtual care clinics
  • Residential aged care facilities
  • Direct admission to Palliative Care Units (PCUs) or hospital Emergency Departments where appropriate for complex needs management

The person will be provided with access to free equipment hire to support people to remain in their own home where possible.

Medical care will be provided in collaboration and partnership with the person’s medical specialist or GP. This collaborative approach ensures that the GP is involved and engaged in the care delivery process.

Specialist palliative care teams continue to operate from Auburn, Blacktown, Mount Druitt and Westmead Hospitals.

Operating times

The WSLHD Community Palliative Care Service will be accessible to patients 24 hours 7 days a week.

  • Nursing services will be provided 7 days a week from 7.00am to 10.00pm as indicated by health care needs and clinical priority.
  • Allied Health services will be provided Monday to Friday from 8.00am to 4.30pm.
  • Virtual care (video enabled) and telephone support will be available 7 days a week from 10.00pm to 7.00am

WSLHD Community Palliative Care Service providers

  • Community Nursing - Clinic and Home Visiting Services
  • Palliative Care Staff Specialists & Registrars
  • Bereavement Counsellor
  • Social Work
  • Clinical Psychologist
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Physiotherapy
  • Dietitian
  • Speech Pathologist
  • Pharmacist
  • Interpreters

Referrals & Enquiries

The Central Referral Service (CRS) is the main point of entry to the service. Referrals can be made by various routes including self-referral from the patient via telephone, email, or e-referral.

Inclusion criteria

  • Patient lives within the Western Sydney LHD area.
  • Patient has been consulted regarding and consented to referral to the service.
  • Patient has been diagnosed with a life limiting condition and
    • requires assessment and supportive care management of complex symptoms, and/or
    • has been diagnosed with a life limiting condition with a short prognosis, and/or
    • has advanced and progressing life limiting condition which requires palliative ‘end of life care’ support.

Referrals: 

Referrals to the WSLHD Community Palliative Care Service can be made by contacting WSLHD Central Referrer Services: 

Eligible patients can be referred to the WSLHD Community Palliative Care Service using the ‘WSLHD Community Palliative Care Service’ Referral form.

Please complete the relevant demographics, history, medications, prognosis and any significant issues.

Referrals for the Aboriginal Supportive and Palliative Care service are made by the referral form sent directly to the Aboriginal Palliative Care team.