Rochester and Elmore District Health Service CEO Karen Laing (left) pictured with Bendigo Health nurse practitioner Anita Wild.
A new palliative care clinic in Rochester will help more patients in the Campaspe region receive end of life care in their own home.
Bendigo Health will run the nurse practitioner-led clinic – the first of its kind in the Loddon Mallee region – in conjunction with Rochester and Elmore District Health Service (REDHS).
The service will begin in March and will have capacity to see up to 10 people on a given day.
Bendigo Health palliative care nurse practitioner Anita Wild said the clinic will connect patients with specialists earlier on in their palliative care journey.
“This clinic will help keep patients at home for longer and optimise their journey to ensure they have the education and know how to take care of themselves in a crisis situation at home,” she said.
The clinic will provide symptom management and early interventions for pain, nausea and psychosocial support for patients and their family.
REDHS CEO Karen Laing said removing the burden of travel to Bendigo would encourage more families seek palliative care support.
She said the clinic will be a good supplement to the service REDHS currently provided.
“We already have palliative care services for people who require end of life care in the hospital setting or our residential aged care facility but many people chose to and would like to manage their diseases and ultimately pass away at home,” she said.
Patients will require an MBS referral from their GP or specialist to access the clinic.