As a person faces the advanced stages of a life threatening illness, the balance of care moves from an emphasis on curative treatment to palliative care. Palliative care aims to achieve the best possible quality of life for patients, their families and carers. We recognise that comfort is more than the absence of pain- it also includes spiritual and emotional comfort.
As well as pain and symptom control, we offer services to help patients and their families cope with the emotional, psychological and spiritual distress often associated with life threatening illness. Support is offered to help patients to live life as fully and comfortably as possible, maintaining dignity and at the same time supporting families and carers during and after the illness. In addition, our service can make referrals to bereavement services as necessary.
The Northern Sydney Local Health District Palliative Care Network consists of Specialist Palliative Care Clinicians, nurses and Allied Health providers. The Royal North Shore Hospital Palliative care service is a consultancy service only and does not have admitting rights to the hospital. Admission to the Palliative care units at Greenwich and Neringah is also available, for end-of-life care and specialised symptom management. There are community and outpatient teams based at these two units as well as at the northern beaches.
