Palliative Ambulatory Service (North)
Palliative care is the specialized coordinated care and support of people with a progressive life limiting illness. Maintenance of dignity, quality of life, consultation in decision making and expert symptom control are key components in the care provided.
The Palliative Ambulatory Service North (PASN) is a mobile specialist palliative
care team staffed by a Medical Specialist, Clinical Nurse Consultant and a
Social Worker.
The purpose of PASN is to implement a coordinated approach to the integration of palliative care and address some of the ‘gaps’
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in metropolitan specialist palliative care service delivery identified in recent Health Department reports.
Services and organisations who, in the past, have had no or limited access
to specialist services can refer patients to the PASN team.
We can provide ‘consultancy’ expert advisory support, ‘on site’ patient
reviews and consultations of complex palliative care patients; and staff
education services to clinical staff at northern metropolitan secondary
hospitals, mental health facilities, psycho-geriatric units,
prisons/correctional facilities and residential aged care facilities as
required.
Poorly controlled symptoms are managed by the specialist team approach, with
a view to maximising the quality of life and enabling the patient to remain in,
or return to, their usual environment, while also enhancing the facilities
capacity to provide best patient outcomes.
History and scope
In 2010, the Department of Health Western Australia’s WA Cancer and
Palliative Care Network had funded the development of Area Health Teams to
provide specialist palliative care in the North and South Metropolitan Area
Health Services.
Bethesda Hospital has proudly committed to managing the service (and named
PASN) for the north metropolitan population which services the communities
covered by the following local authorities:
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Bassendean
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Bayswater
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Cambridge
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Claremont
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Cottesloe
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Joondalup
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Kalamunda
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Mosman Park
-
Mundaring
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Nedlands
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Peppermint Grove
-
Perth
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Stirling
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Subiaco
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Swan
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Vincent
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Wanneroo
Click here to view the Perth Metro Area Health Services map.
Currently established as a pilot project, the service will be concurrently
evaluated by the Cancer and Palliative Care Research and Evaluation Unit
(CAPCREU). University of WA.
Referrals
Referrals are accepted from any medical and nursing staff at North Metropolitan Health Service secondary hospitals (i.e. Joondalup, Swan Districts Osborne Park), mental health (including Graylands Selby-Lemnos Health services) disability and residential aged care facilities and the Department of Corrective Services.
Reasons for referrals may include pain and other symptom management which the medical officer has assessed as being ‘outside’ their area of expertise or current management has not been effective, psycho social support for the patient/resident/client and/or their family, assistance in Advanced Care Planning and guidance regarding terminal/end of life care.
We will work in collaboration with the patient’s
general practitioner and medical and nursing team.
Referrals are also encouraged by other specialist
palliative care services from inpatient palliative care units, tertiary
consultancy services and Silver Chain Hospice Care Service to advise when
patients/clients currently receiving specialist palliative care input are
planning to be transferred to facilities or are admitted to secondary hospitals,
to support seamless care.
Referrals received via fax or email. Please phone the PASN office if the
referral is assessed as ‘Urgent.’
Please note PASN is not a ‘rapid response’
visiting service but we will contact the referring source of the ASAP on the
same day to plan service needs.
The service is available Monday to Friday office
hours.
Forms
Team Members
Palliative Care Specialist (0.6FTE)
Dr. Han Wei Chiew (part time) Mon / Wed / Thu
Clinical Nurse Consultant (1FTE)
Wendy Scott
Social Worker (0.4FTE)
Helen Fratson (part time) Mon / Thu
Administrative Assistant
Pat Lomax (part time) Mon / Tue / Wed
Further Information
