Department of Health - Palliative Care

About Palliative Care

Palliative care is active care that aims to promote comfort when cure is no longer possible. It offers a positive approach to caring and encourages people to live as full a life as they can when faced with a life limiting illness.

Territory Palliative Care is a consultative service providing care for people with a life limiting illness throughout the Northern Territory. There are palliative care teams based in Darwin and Alice Springs:

Top End - provides services to Darwin region, Katherine region, East Arnhem, Daly River region and coastal island communities of the Top End.

Central Australia - provides services to Alice Springs, Central Australia and the Barkly region

Referrals to palliative care

Referrals may be received from a medical practitioner, hospital staff, community services or the patient/family member may self-refer.

After a referral is received an assessment will be undertaken by a member of the team to determine if palliative care is the right service to meet the needs of the client. Once accepted onto the service the palliative care team will work with primary service providers to tailor a suitable plan of care.

Top End:
Building 58 (Menzies / John Matthews Building), Royal Darwin Hospital
PO Box 41326, Casuarina NT 0810
Ph: (08) 8922 6761
Fax: (08) 8922 6775
Central Australia:
Flynn Drive Community Care Centre, Flynn Drive
PO Box 721, Alice Springs NT 08721
Ph: (08) 8951 6762
Fax: (08) 8951 6774

Services offered by Territory Palliative Care (TPC)

Community Support
Palliative Care Physicians, Specialist Nurses and Aboriginal Health Workers support the work of primary medical providers and community nurses to patients residing at their place of residence including residential care facilities. They do not replace existing providers of care but assess needs, provide skilled advice, assist in coordinating community resources and are able to request additional services as required.

TPC Top End has a multi-disciplinary team including Allied Health professionals (Social Worker, Occupational Therapist, Dietician, Physiotherapist and Pastoral Carer) who have a specialist primary care role and provide services directly to clients of the palliative care service, as well as a consultation role to primary allied health care providers.

TPC Central Australia has a community based consultancy team including Medical, Nursing, Allied Health and Aboriginal Health Worker.
Hospital Consultation
Palliative Care Physicians and Specialist Nurses provide a consultative service to Royal Darwin (RDH), Alice Springs (ASH) and Darwin Private Hospital. Outpatient Clinics are also available at RDH and ASH for new patients and follow up of existing patients.
The Hospice
The Hospice is a specialised 12 bed short-stay facility located on the grounds of RDH in Darwin. The hospice accepts admissions for active symptom management, as a transition to home from hospital, or for care in the final stage of illness. There is limited access for respite care.
Bereavement Care
Support is available to family members and significant others who can access the bereavement service. Central Australia does not currently have designated bereavement staff.
Volunteer Support
Trained volunteers play an integral role in providing support in the home, in the hospice and during bereavement. Please contact us if you interested in volunteering
Education
Our education programme offers continuing education to staff, other health professionals and the community, including through the PEPA program. For more information visit the PEPA page
Research
Research is an important component of health care delivery. Patients may be approached to participate in one of the current projects. Participation is entirely voluntary and not essential to utilise palliative care services

Primary service providers

There are numerous primary service providers involved in the delivery of palliative care services throughout the NT. They include:

General Practitioners
Medical Consultants representing numerous specialties
Community Care Nurses
Indigenous Health Care Providers
NT Carers
Public and Private Hospitals
Residential Aged Care Facilities
Aged Care Assessment Teams
Remote Health Centres
Non-government providers such as Red Cross, Home Care Services, Private Nursing Agencies
Complementary Therapists

Territory Palliative Care Network

The Network meets regularly at regional locations around the Northern Territory including Darwin, Alice Springs, Katherine, Nhulunbuy and Tennant Creek. Some meetings occur as part of the Chronic Disease Network.

The Network is open to all health professionals, volunteers and others interested in keeping in contact to obtain information, education and support in the delivery of palliative care. Contact the Network Coordinator at Territory Palliative Care for further information.

Download the Network Newsletter here:

Projects and News

Program of Experience in the Palliative Approach (PEPA)

PEPA has been offering clinical placements and workshop education in the Northern Territory since 2003 as part of the National Palliative Care program. For more details visit the PEPA page.

Advance care planning

Advance care planning process enabling a patient to express wishes about his or her future health care in consultation with their health care providers, family members and other important people in their lives. Advance care planning helps to ensure that the concept of consent is respected if the patient becomes incapable of participating in treatment decisions. It is based on the ethical principle of patient autonomy and the legal doctrine of patient consent. For more information visit http://www.respectingpatientchoices.org.au or www.racgp.org.au/guidelines/advancecareplans

NT documents for Advance Care Planning:

Mental Health in Palliative Care Project

Many patients receiving palliative care services have underlying mental health issues that are often undiagnosed or untreated. This adds to the disability already experienced by the person and makes symptom management more complex and more difficult.

Conversely those with a severe mental illness have a high risk of contracting a serious physical illness that may require palliative care, but they are less likely to receive appropriate care.

This project titled Identification and Effective Management of Mental Health Problems in Palliative Care Patients aimed to address these unfulfilled needs. The project was implemented collaboratively by NT Mental Health Services and Territory Palliative Care from 2010 to 2011.

It has been recognised that those with chronic or advanced illness will wait for cues from their care providers that give permission to them to discuss emotional issues. If these subtle permissions are not given then emotionally charged conversations will usually not take place.

Education packages have been designed to provide relevant information for health professionals and primary health care networks, to improve and increase the identification and management of mental health problems in palliative care patients (and their families and carers)

In addition, these packages will provide information on patients with a severe and enduring mental illness who are likely to require palliative care. It is also hoped that the information will assist care providers to participate in conversations with their patients about their emotional and spiritual needs.

Education packages available include:

Delirium
Dementia
Fatigue at the end of life
Palliative Care for those with Intellectual disability

Please contact Territory Palliative Care for a copy of the education packages.

This project was funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, through the Local Palliative Care Grants Program Round of the Palliative Care Section. We thank PEPA staff for their assistance in the development of these packages.