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Palliative Care

By your side

Extraordinary care for you and your family.

Palliative care is the specialised, coordinated support of people with a progressive, life-limiting or terminal illness. Bethesda palliative care staff are renowned for their empathy, compassion and nurturing care. Always going above and beyond, they support patients to live as comfortably and peacefully as possible.

Bethesda provides two streams of palliative care — on-site and MPaCCS.

On-site Palliative Care

We have comfortable, modern facilities and wonderful staff able to accommodate even the most complex palliative care needs on-site at our Claremont Hospital.

Metropolitan Palliative Care Consultancy Service (MPaCCS)

MPaCCS is a mobile capacity-building service that works with staff and patients in residential care, psychiatric facilities, disability services, and other facilities where palliative care may not be the core business.

Maintenance of dignity & comfort

Quality of life

Consultation in decision-making

Symptom control

Support for families

Pastoral Care

Inpatient Care

For health professionals.

If you are a health professional wanting to refer, or discuss a potential referral:

  • Phone the ward on 08 9340 6311 or the PCU Coordinator on 0449 901 596
  • Email enquiries to palliativenurses@bethesda.org.au or our Nurse Manager ebrearley@bethesda.org.au
  • Download, complete and fax this referral form to 08 9340 6491 or email with this fillable referral form

If you are a potential patient or family member wanting to find out more about palliative care at Bethesda, we welcome enquiries.

  • Phone the ward on 08 9340 6311 (please be aware that at busy times we may need to take a message and call you back)
  • Email palliativenurses@bethesda.org.au or our Nurse Manager ebrearley@bethesda.org.au

General information about palliative care

in Western Australia is available between 9:00am – 4:30pm every day of the week from Palliative Care WA’s Information and Support Line. Click here for more details.

Useful resources for residential aged care facility staff.

Caring in the Last Days of Life
This publication that helps explain the dying process for families, and gives guidance to caregivers in providing comfort and support to loved ones.

Residential Aged Care Palliative Approach Toolkit
Aims to strengthen the capacity of residential aged care staff to deliver high quality, evidence-based care for residents.

Care Search — Palliative Care in Residential Aged Care Facility
A useful booklet on dementia and affirming life, with information for carers, families and friends of people with severe and end-stage dementia.

Cancer Council WA
Provides workshops and training sessions on all aspects of palliative care for health professionals.

Pastoral care

Spiritual support in difficult times.

We have an on-site Chaplain and pastoral care team who provide words of comfort, guidance and friendship during difficult times. Whether it’s a quiet cup of tea in a patient room, a walk through our gardens, praying together, or lunch at the Café, we are here to support you however you feel most comfortable.

All patients, friends and families are welcome to access this free service during your hospital stay; religious affiliation is not a pre-requisite. Conversations with anyone from our pastoral care team are respectful, private and confidential.

Bethesda Chapel

The Chapel — a quiet place for prayer and reflection — is located near the Café on the ground floor. Patients and visitors are welcome at any time.

Voluntary Assisted Dying

You can read our position statement on Voluntary Assisted Dying here.

“Staff were so loving and caring.

They helped us immensely when Dad passed. A big ‘thank you’ for making Dad as comfortable as possible and looking after him (and us) so well.”

– Raashid R

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