Specialist palliative care services in the ACT

The community palliative care services of Calvary Bruce Public Hospital are run from Clare Holland House at Barton. Services include:

• a specialist palliative care clinic where your doctor can refer you to see a nurse, doctor, social worker or other allied health professional about any symptoms that are causing distress
• specialist nursing care in your home or residential care where you have symptoms that are difficult for your GP and caring team to manage. This is called home based palliative care
• Specialist inpatient palliative care in Clare Holland House for you in the last weeks of life if you and your GP or care team are unable to manage your symptoms at home
• overnight stays when you may need short term specialist support for your symptoms at Clare Holland House.

This is a specialist clinical palliative care service so you must be referred by your GP, specialist, another health service or residential aged-care facility. The service will work with your referrer to offer you the support that best suits you.

Residents of Southern New South Wales are able to access the specialist palliative care inpatient service (hospice) where care is not able to be provided at home. Residents are recommended to access their local Southern New South Wales Local Health District palliative care service in the first instance. E.g., Queanbeyan Community Health Palliative Care Service phone 6150 7172.

Canberra Health Services offer palliative care for children, young people and adults as part of everyday care. Care is provided by:

• nurses
• doctors such as your paediatrician or geriatrician
• social worker, physiotherapist, and other allied health professionals
• spiritual carer

Canberra Health Services has an adult specialist palliative care team who support your treating team. This might include a doctor or nurse when there are palliative care needs that are not able to be met by the treating team.  Care is provided by nurses, doctors, a social worker and psychologist who have specialised in palliative care. 

The team can help you with:

• relief of pain and other symptoms like nausea and shortness of breath
• emotional, social, and spiritual support
• making decisions about medical treatment
• bringing families together to talk about sensitive issues
• information about what options are available to support you and your family
• making sure your voice is heard on issues that are important to you
• referral to palliative care services in the community
• information about support available outside of hospital
• assessment for Clare Holland House hospice
• counselling and grief support.

To see someone from the Specialist Palliative care team while you are in hospital, talk with your doctor, nurse, social worker or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Liaison Officer.

SPC consumer brochure

For more information visit the Canberra Health Services website

The role of Paediatric Palliative Care Service is to make sure quality palliative care is provided for all children or young people living with a life-limiting illness and to support their families. A Paediatric Palliative Care Nurse is based at Canberra Hospital and is able to work alongside of your paediatrician and the treating team to provide support either in hospital or at home.  Many children who are palliative may also receive care in Sydney.  The Paediatric Palliative Care Nurse works closely with the Sydney Children’s Care Network to make sure you continue to receive palliative care services when you return home.

A child with a life-limiting illness under the care of paediatric services can be referred by their GP or paediatrician, or through self-referral.  All self-referrals must be confirmed by the child or young person’s paediatrician.

Paediatric Palliative Care Service Phone number:  02 5124 7578

Service hours are Monday – Friday 8:30 am- 5:00 pm

Palliative Care ACT support a volunteer program at Canberra Hospital. Volunteers provide a range of support services and a friendly face during your hospital stay.

Canberra Health Services, with the support of the Canberra Hospital Foundation and local community groups, provide comfort care resources for people at the end of their life. These resources are also available for families in all wards of both Canberra Hospital and University of Canberra Hospital. Please talk with your health professional for more information.

Paediatric Palliative Care