Frequently
asked questions
Call 1800 360 000 from 7am – 10pm, every day of the year.
Questions?
We understand it can be difficult finding the right information about palliative care, knowing who you can trust, and what advice to listen to. We hope the following will help answer a few of the more commonly asked questions, but if you’re still left with questions, call us to speak with a specialist palliative care nurse on:
1800 360 000
About the Palliative Care Advice Service
The advice service is where you can speak with a palliative care nurse or doctor about any aspect of a life-limiting illness.
Operating for the first time in Victoria, the advice service gives Victorians an opportunity to access expert advice on life-limiting illness, palliative care and end of life care.
The advice service is available every day of the year including public holidays.
The advice service operates from 7am- 10pm.
The advice service offers information, guidance and support about palliative and end of life care that is:
- specialist (nursing, medical)
- related to all life-limiting conditions
- based in Victoria
- replace the after-hours care of designated community palliative care services
- replace the care of other health care providers
- provide case management such as referrals, direct advocacy, intervention or prescriptions
- access individual medical records
- counselling services, or
- emergency management (i.e., 000 matters)
No. There is no cost for accessing the advice service, but some mobile carriers may incur a charge.
Who is the advice service for?
The service is for all Victorians.
It is for people living with life-limiting illness and the people who support them.
It’s for family, friends or neighbours. It’s also for doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers and providers.
You will be asked for information including:
- your name, phone number and the postcode you are calling from
- if you are known to a specialist palliative care service
Please note: the service does not provide treatment and does not have access to your medical records.
We understand that your time is important. If our nurses are on other calls, rather than keep you on hold we will ask you to leave a message. We will call you back within half an hour.
If you call outside of our operational hours of 7am-10pm, you can leave a message and the nurse will return your call.
specialist.
Accessibility
The Palliative Care Advice Service provides free access to interpreting services.
You can call 131 450 and ask for 1800 360 000.
Or ask the nurse for an interpreter at the start of your call.
The Palliative Care Advice Service accepts TTY and calls through the
National Relay Service 1800 555 660.
You can also contact us through the SITE or via email [email protected].
Privacy
you do not wish for your call to be recorded, ask the nurse to turn it
off.
if you would like to.
Yes, all information you provide remains confidential and our records are secure. The palliative care advice service is governed by Victorian laws including the Privacy Data and Protection Act 2014 (Vic) and the Health Records Act 2001 (Vic).
Or you can see our privacy policy HERE.
Promotional material
You can order the Palliative Care Advice Service promotional materials through this site.
Alternatively you can download brochures in a range of languages from our Resources page. You just need to click the document to download it.