Expanding palliative care services to support the community in Northern Tasmania

Specialist Palliative Care services are expanding from 5 to 7 days a week, including public holidays, to improve care, advice and support in Northern Tasmania as part of a new pilot program.

Delivered through the Tasmanian Government’s Palliative Care Partnerships Program, healthcare providers like community nurses, paramedics, and GPs will be able to access clinical support and advice from a specialist palliative care nurse over the weekend.

Importantly, this will mean better care for Tasmanians at end of life in the North, with patients, families and carers to benefit with greater support and peace of mind.

The expansion of services is part of a long-term plan for health care in the State, reflecting a commitment to deliver more care in the community.

It will provide valuable additional support to patients, families and health care professionals working in the community.

Palliative care services play a vital role in supporting some of the most vulnerable Tasmanians to maximise their quality of life and minimise the effect of life-limiting illnesses.

This program is designed to support more Tasmanians and their loved ones to get the specialist care they deserve and enable them to stay in the comfortable environment of their own residence while managing life-limiting illnesses.

The service will also increase the specialist support available to health professionals operating in the community and in doing so, help to avoid unnecessary hospital attendances.

The trial will be evaluated next year to ensure the service is meeting the needs of the community.

Investigations are underway into extending the trial to include specialist palliative care services in the North West.