Community-based support for your patients
Locating palliative care services
The National Palliative Care Service Directory provides information about specialist medical, nursing or allied health palliative care service providers, organisations and community support agencies.
Medical support for your patient
If your patient needs medical support you can refer them to:
- 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84)
- a hospital or health centre for more specialised support, advice on medications and referrals to other services
- specialist access in rural and remote areas
- more information about treatment and care towards the end of life
- reputable online medical help and information.
After hours palliative care support
Most people who have been referred to a palliative care service or community service provider will be given advice about who and how to contact someone outside of business hours for information and support.
Find more information about:
- a range of after-hours medical help and advice
- PalAssist, which is a Queensland-wide, free telephone (7am to 7pm, 7 days a week) and online service for palliative care patients, carers, family and friends seeking practical information and emotional support
Home-based nursing and support services
Specialist palliative care services can help with accessing community nursing, occupational therapy or physiotherapy.
Find out about community and in-home nursing services through My Aged Care via their website, or call 1800 200 422.
If your patient is under 65 and has a disability or condition that restricts their day-to-day living, they may be eligible for support through the Community Care program.
They may also require medical aids and equipment, which help people to perform tasks they may find difficult by increasing ease and safety and promoting independence.
Emotional and psychological support
Find more information about:
- counselling - patient information about how to access it and what it costs
- coping with grief and loss - services and information
- mental health services and support groups
- patient information about the signs of mental illness.
Transport assistance
Your patient may be eligible for a range of services that assist with transportation:
- Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme - help with travel and accommodation costs. You may be eligible if and your carer need to travel more than 50km to access specialist treatment that are not available locally
- Queensland Taxi Subsidy Scheme
- Non-emergency medical transport
- Community transport options
- Royal Flying Doctors Service
- Disability parking permit scheme
Financial assistance
A life-threatening illness or injury can have a significant impact on an individual or family's financial situation, plans and goals.
Financial changes may include:
- health-related expenses, such as medication, equipment and specialist fees
- costs related to transport, accommodation, child-care or complementary therapies
- loss of income
- difficulty with paying for debts and bills.
Find patient information about financial considerations at the end of life.