Specialist Palliative Care
At Calvary Health Care Bethlehem we use a team approach to address the needs of patients and families. Our care is coordinated with other services and is focused on the whole individual. We help patients to achieve their goals and improve their quality of life.
We provide support to family and friends during the course of the patient’s illness and in their period of grief and loss.
- We understand that illness affects the whole person – physically, emotionally, socially and spiritually
- We try to relieve pain and other signs of distress
- We respect your freedom and choice
- We support carers family and friends
- We offer support to families after a patient dies
To be eligible to receive support from our Community Palliative Care Service (CPCS), a patient must live in the city of Bayside, Port Phillip, Glen Eira, Stonnington or Kingston. Please note that we only cover parts of these municipalities. To check if your address is covered by CPCS, please call 03 9834 9423 or 9834 9426.
We also provide patient support with tele-health consultations, practitioner education and training, a palliative clinic as well as a Day Centre providing diversional therapy for Community Palliative patients.
What services do we offer you and your family?
A Palliative Care Medical Consultant can help you manage any issues regarding your illness in consultation with your General Practitioner (GP).
Specialist Palliative Care Nurses offer care, give advice and information any time of the day or night.
Social Workers offer counselling, support, information and practical advice on getting help in the community.
Pastoral Carers offer counselling and support.
They can help you on an emotional, personal, practical, and spiritual level.
Music Therapists use music to improve health and wellbeing.
Physiotherapists offer practical help and advice to live life as well as possible. They can help with managing pain and suggesting exercises.
Occupational Therapists help you manage everyday activities and assist with providing equipment.
Palliative Care Volunteers are trained to help you, provide relaxation and offer social support.
Bereavement Support Staff and Counselling offer counselling and help people deal with loss and grief in their own way.
Referrals to the Community Palliative Care Service are assessed by the access and intake unit at Calvary Health Care Bethlehem. Patient assessments and follow up appointments by the community palliative care service take place in the clinic setting
The Palliative Clinics look after patients who would benefit from seeing a team of experts. The clinics’ specialist doctors, nurses, social workers, physiotherapists, pastoral care and occupational therapists can help to stop pain and other signs of illness. The clinics are available to people who are living at home and wish to improve their quality of life.
On arrival patients will be assessed by either a specially trained doctor or nurse. The patient’s doctor and other specialists involved in their care remain an important part of the team and will be contacted after each appointment.
If patients become too unwell to travel to the clinic then a specialist community nurse will visit the patient at home.
Overnight advice and support is also available as well as an on call community nursing service for those patients who need to be visited at home
The Day Centre is a caring and friendly place for you to meet others and join in a range of activities. The program offered in the centre focuses on your physical and mental wellbeing; with the opportunity to be involved in one or many activities. It also gives carers a rest.
Program activities include:
- Art, music and pet therapy
- Reiki, aromatherapy, tai chi and gentle massage
- Armchair travel and outings
- Movies, quizzes and games
- Cooking and gardening
- Discussion and reminiscence.
The Day Centre is run by a Leisure and Lifestyle Coordinator and is supported by volunteers and the Palliative team if required.
We provide lunch for all attendees.
The Palliative Care Day Centre is open 10am – 3pm Wednesday and Friday.
To be eligible you must be referred by a GP or already a patient of CHCB.
Bookings are essential. They can be made via 03 9834 9563.
The Bethlehem Community Palliative Care Service (CPCS) Clinics look after patients who would benefit from seeing a team of experts. The clinics’ specialist doctors, nurses, social workers, physiotherapists, pastoral care and occupational therapists can help to stop pain and other signs of illness. The clinics are available to people who are living independently at home and wish to improve their quality of life.
On arrival patients will be assessed by either a specially trained doctor or nurse. The patient’s doctor and other specialists involved in their care remain an important part of the team and will be contacted after each appointment.
Your General Practitioner (GP) is able to consult with our Palliative Care Medical Consultant to assist you to manage any issues regarding your illness. We also co-ordinate with other palliative care services, community agencies and hospitals.
Contact us
For more information about our services please contact Access & Intake on:
Phone: 03 9834 9423 Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5.00pm
Fax: 03 9834 9494.