Referral process to palliative care for patients

You may refer your patient if their physical, social, emotional, psychological, cultural or spiritual needs exceed:

• your knowledge and experience with palliative care
• your resource or facility capacity
• their own resources or those of their carer or family.

Other reasons include:

• the patient develops a new problem or requires change in management or emergency treatment
• the patient’s family or carer experiences a change in their situation
• as appropriate to the needs and wishes of the patient, carer and family
• where a referral can enhance end-of-life care
• the patient, family or carer require further emotional/psychological or bereavement support.

Criteria for referral

Patients must:

• have been diagnosed with a life-limiting illness
• agree to being referred or patient’s ‘person responsible’ agrees if the patient does not have capacity
• be generally aware of their diagnosis.

Special consideration needs are given to:

• children and young adults
• temporarily or permanently incompetent adults
• people with special needs related to their cultural beliefs.

How to make a referral

A referral can be made by:

• the person with the life-limiting illness (patient)
• the patient’s primary care provider
• a family member or carer.

Download and complete the Palliative Care Service Referral Form

If the referral is not made by a health professional, we will consult with the patient's general practitioner or specialist before accepting the referral.

How we assess a referral

• Our interdisciplinary team of medical, nursing and allied health staff review all referrals.
• We will contact the patient as soon as possible, depending upon the urgency.
• If we have a high volume of urgent referrals, we contact the referrer and patient to advise the waiting time.
• If the patient’s condition changes, the referrer should contact us for an urgent assessment.

What happens after the assessment?

We will contact the person making the referral to:

• advise our assessment outcome
• negotiate arrangements for the patient's care.

Palliative care service delivery

Assessment includes advising the primary care provider’s level of involvement as outlined in the Palliative Care Service Delivery Model:

• consultation only (Level 2)
• ongoing shared care (Level 3)
• more involved role (Level 4). 

Patients are reviewed weekly as required. You may be invited to attend these meetings if a more detailed discussion is required.

Specialist Palliative Care Service

The Specialist Palliative Care Service (SPCS) provide consultation and assessment to support palliative care health professionals. Our SPCS community team offers:

• expert advice in clinical management
• assessment and care planning
• education for health professionals
• advocacy for clients, families and carers, and palliative care providers.
• assessment and advice for the management of complex symptoms
• advance care planning and medical goals of care
• Practical care planning for dying
• Psychosocial client and caregiver support
• Bereavement care for close family and carers of people who have been registered with the service.

Contact us for more information