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Getting help with palliative care

Whai āwhina mō te manaakitanga whakamaene

This page has links to information in other languages.

Caring for someone who has a life-limiting illness is very much a team effort. The person and their whānau (family) are right at the centre of that team. The main goal is to help the person live their life as fully and comfortably as possible until they die.

Care is always tailored to an individual’s needs. Many people are well managed by their general practice team and district nurse and do not need specialist palliative care. Others need help with a specific issue for a short period of time, while a few may need support over longer periods.

General practice team

General practice teams are the main providers of palliative care. They work with other services when necessary.

For general practices currently taking new patients, phone Primary and Community Services on (03) 687‑2307. To find the contact details and fee schedule for a general practice see Te Whatu Ora South Canterbury – General Practice.

Community-based health services

You may already be receiving care from a community team. This team can continue to provide care. It can also get advice and help from the South Canterbury Hospital Palliative Care Service if needed.

District nurses and domestic assistance

District nurses and healthcare assistants provide nursing care and treatment for people who stay in their own home.

Domestic assistance provides a support worker who comes to your house to help with daily tasks, such as laundry, vacuuming, dusting, dishes, making the bed, preparing meals and essential shopping.

District nursing and domestic assistance are free for people receiving palliative care at home. Ask your general practice team to arrange this for you. You can also call Needs Assessment Service Coordination (NASC) on (03) 687-7120 to request domestic assistance yourself. You will be allocated one of the district nursing and domestic assistance providers.

Residential care staff

If you are in residential care (a rest home, hospital level or dementia care), you will not receive district nursing or domestic assistance services. The residential care staff will look after you and provide the help you need.

Hospital services

Te Whatu Ora South Canterbury provides palliative care to patients as required. Their services include:

symptom control, for example, for pain and breathlessness
emotional and family support
end-of-life care for people dying in the hospital.

The South Canterbury Hospital Palliative Care Service is community based, with a palliative doctor working closely with palliative clinical nurse specialists and a social worker. This team supports general practice teams and the regular hospital-based team to treat patients at home or in hospital.

You can contact the team directly by phoning (03) 687‑2421 and they will answer your questions about palliative care and the health teams involved. The team is available to visit you at home to discuss any concerns.

Planning your care and responding to your needs is part of the Community Palliative Service role. If you are admitted to hospital, they can visit you and offer appropriate support. If you go home from hospital, this team can help make sure you are referred to appropriate community services, including specialist teams if required.

Your doctor or a hospital specialist can refer you to the hospital-based services. If you think you or a family member or friend might need the team's help, talk to a member of the healthcare team about this. You can also contact the palliative care team yourself by phoning (03) 687‑2421.

Hospice South Canterbury

Hospice South Canterbury specialises in caring for people who need palliative care. Your general practice team, hospital doctor or other health professional can refer you to the hospice for:

help in managing difficult symptoms
care at the very end of your life.

You can contact Hospice South Canterbury for support and advice on (03) 687-7675.

HealthInfo recommends the following pages

The Palliative Outcomes Initiative (POI) – Patient resources

Brochures about palliative care and end of life in English, Arabic, Chinese, Cook Island Māori, Hindi, Korean, Samoan and Tongan.

On the next page: Financial support in palliative care

Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed October 2024.

Sources

The information in this section comes from the following sources, some of which may be clinically complex or not available to the general public

Canterbury Community HealthPathways – Cough in palliative care, retrieved December 2016.

Canterbury Community HealthPathways – Dyspnoea in palliative care, retrieved December 2016.

Canterbury Community HealthPathways – Pruritus (itch) in palliative care, retrieved December 2016.

Canterbury Community HealthPathways – Weakness and fatigue in palliative care, retrieved December 2016.

Canterbury DHB – Palliative care guidelines (http://cdhb.palliativecare.org.nz/4207.htm), retrieved August 2016.

Nurse Maude – Symptom management, retrieved December 2016.

Palliative Care Australia – Facts about morphine and other opioid medicines in palliative care, retrieved February 2017.

Palliative Care Australia – Learn more about pain and pain management, retrieved February 2017.

South Island Alliance – Health of older people useful resources (https://www.sialliance.health.nz/programmes/health-of-older-people/useful-resources/), retrieved September 2022.

UpToDate – Managing pain when you have cancer, retrieved February 2017.

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