Palliative care — Wellington, Hutt and Kapiti

Palliative care supports people living with a terminal illness where a cure is no longer possible. It considers the whole person, not just medical and clinical needs, with the aim of improving quality of life. Support is also given to whānau.

You might receive palliative care alongside particular treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Palliative care is also provided in the earlier stages of illness, alongside other therapies that are aimed at prolonging life. It does not speed up or postpone death but supports life and regards dying as a normal process.

Palliative care aims to improve quality of life by:

• providing relief from pain and other physical symptoms
• combining psychological and spiritual aspects of care
• using a team approach to address the needs of the person who is ill and their whānau
• offering a support system to help people live as actively as possible until death
• offering a support system to help the whānau cope during a person's illness and in bereavement.

Accessing palliative care services

You will need a lead palliative carer. This should be someone you already know and is able to coordinate your palliative care. This is usually your healthcare provider. If you live in a residential facility, this may be a nurse from the team.

Your lead palliative carer will have regular conversations with you and, if you choose, your whānau.

They will:

• provide information for you and your whānau about your condition and what to expect
• help you access other support and services
• do an accurate all round assessment of your needs
• coordinate care teams during all hours
• provide basic levels of symptom control
• give you psychological, social, spiritual and practical support
• communicate with you, your whānau and the professionals supporting you.

Palliative care can be provided in different places, including at:

• your home
• hospital
• care homes
• hospice.

Palliative care can be provided by:

• healthcare providers such as GPs
• specialists
• social workers
• physiotherapists
• occupational therapists
• counsellors
• dietitians
• district nurses
• chaplains.

Hospice is just one part of palliative care.

Your primary care team will also have access to specialist advice from experts in palliative care, such as consultants in palliative medicine or clinical nurse specialists.

It may be that as your needs change or become more complex, you require additional support from these specialist services. These may be provided to you from a hospice or a hospital as inpatient or outpatient facilities.

Who provides palliative care

Basic palliative care is provided by all healthcare practitioners, from GPs, district nurses, and residential care facilities through to hospital-based clinical services.

In the community

Mary Potter Hospice provides palliative care in the community, at home, and in an inpatient unit.

Mary Potter Hospice (external link)

In Hutt Valley, Te Omanga also provides specialist palliative care service.

Te Omanga Hospice — Healthpoint (external link)

In hospital

Specialist palliative care in Wellington Regional Hospital and Kenepuru Community Hospital is provided through the hospital palliative care service.

The 2 specialist services work closely together so that you are supported wherever you are.

In hospital, our team consists of specially trained nurses and specialist doctors with expertise in palliative care. We provide care alongside your main care team in hospital.

• If your illness is causing discomfort — such as pain that is causing you trouble, shortness of breath, or feeling sick (nausea) and throwing up (vomiting) — we may be able to help ease these symptoms and improve your comfort.
• If your thoughts and feelings are distressing, having someone to help you talk through and address these things can often make a major difference.
• If your illness may be having a big impact elsewhere in your life — maybe with your partner, children, whānau, work or financial affairs — professional support and advice in these situations can often help you find solutions and resolve some of your concerns.
• You may also be faced with decisions and choices that are confusing or difficult to make during your illness. The palliative care team may be able to help explain things to you, and help you find answers that you feel most comfortable with.
• On leaving hospital you may need ongoing support and care. The palliative care team is often able to link in with the right services for you.

Palliative care — Healthify (external link)

Your care team may discuss with you the possibility of someone from a specialist palliative care service being involved in your care.