Integrated Network Palliative Care Project

The Integrated Network Palliative Care Project is funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing, under Round 3 of the Local Palliative Care Grants Program until March 2009. The project began in 2006 with the aim to build on the strong partnerships and networks developed during the Rural Palliative Care Project (2003-2006).

Project aim:

To develop and implement a model of service delivery that utilises care planning, improves collaboration between health care services and facilitates smooth transition between care settings to best meet the needs of palliative patients and families, focusing on Coffs Harbour and Bellingen local government areas.

Project objectives:

1. To support health care providers across the care continuum to provide evidence based palliative care in a coordinated manner
2. To utilise the weekly multi-disciplinary palliative care planning meeting to develop individualised care plans to improve patient and carer outcomes and to provide general health care providers with palliative care learning opportunities
3. To support the smooth and appropriate transition between settings of care, i.e. residential aged care facilities, the person’s home and inpatient facilities
4. To establish formalised network agreements between project partners to ensure that there are processes in place to promote the efficient and effective use of limited palliative care
5. To explore the possibility of project partners making a financial contribution so that this initiative, if deemed to meet local need, can be sustained beyond the life of the funding.

The basis of sustainable palliative care is a system founded in the population based approach as identified by Palliative Care Australia, where palliative care is delivered according to individual patient and family needs. This approach recognises that the majority of palliative care is, and should be, delivered by primary care providers in all care settings with only a relatively small number of patients with complex needs requiring specialist palliative care services.

Primary providers of palliative care include GPs, nursing and allied health, staff in Residential Aged Care Facilities, acute Hospital and community settings. Specialist Palliative Care Services need to be available to patients and families with complex needs and to provide education and support to primary care providers.

More Information: contact the Division by phone 6651 5774.