The Southern Highlands Division of General Practice will manage this project with funding from the Department of Health and Ageing through the Australian General Practice Network. Our aim is to consider and develop processes which will assist in delivering high quality and consistent care to palliative patients within the Wingecarribee Shire. The project will work with GPs and staff from the Public and Private Hospital, residential aged care facilities, community health and private duty nursing agencies.

The project is funded until June 2011.

A key element will be the development of a ‘Link Nurse’ program and the establishment of an End of Life Care Pathway. GP and multidisciplinary education and team approaches to care will assist in collaboration and foster communication within Palliative Care Service delivery. Strengthening links with the Specialist Palliative Care Services will also assist GPs who provide a large component of care to palliative patients in our area.

Jane Mahony, a local Palliative Care CNC has been employed to progress the rollout of the End of Life Care Pathway and provide a large part of the educational input to nursing and other staff members.

For more information about the program please contact Margaret Mogg

Rural Palliative Care Project Newsletters

June 2010

February 2010

October 2009

July - August 2009

April 2009

November 2008

Interesting Articles

Media release from Palliative Care Australia  Australians Dying Badly

Article from the Australian Family Physician  Until The Chemist Opens - Palliation From The Doctor's Bag

Resources

Information on Suffering Loss and Grief in Palliative Care

GP Palliative Care Directory

Multi-Faith Directory for Responses to End-of-Life Care Issues

Palliative Care Needs Assessment Guidelines & Needs Assessment

Letter from Prof Girgis - explanation of tools 
Needs Assessment Tool Medical Director 
Needs Assessment Tool: Progressive Disease-Cancer

Please note the Word templates become "inactive" if opened before they are imported into Medical Director

The My Wishes website contains useful information on advanced care planning for patients, members of the general community, healthcare staff and residential aged care staff. My Wishes has been set up to be relevant and accessible across care sectors and the community. For more information please visit www.mywishes.org.au