General Practice Support

PALLIATIVE CARE AND THE GP

• What is Palliative Care
• GPs as Palliative Care Providers
• Caresearch Guide to GP Resources
• Managing Complex Care
• Managing Emergencies

GP SELF CARE

• Looking after yourself
• RACGP GP Support

LEARNING SUPPORT FOR THE GP

Web-based Learning

• gplearning is an interactive online CPD education service. Financial members of the RACGP automatically have access to gplearning: Courses available at gplearning include:                

                                  Advance Care Planning for General Practitioners - RACGP QA&CPD points (4 Category 2 points)
                                  Strengthening Cancer Care: Psychosocial Support Module (PSM) - RACGP QA&CPD points (6 Category 2 points)
                                  Female Cancers and Psychosocial Care - ALM

• Opioid Medication in Palliative Care (PCA) via RACGP/ACRRM
• Psychosocial Support Module (as above – no CPD points awarded)
• Communication with Patients and Families
• A Multidisciplinary Training Program for Spiritual Care in Palliative Care (PCA)
• Caresearch Online Learning Resources

Palliative Care Podcasts

• Palliative Care Victoria - Podcasts
• Grief and Bereavement Podcasts - Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement

Other Learning Opportunities

• Program of Experience in the Palliative Approach (PEPA) - An ideal opportunity to learn from experienced specialist staff to enhance skills, knowledge and experience in the palliative approach. CPD points awarded.

Caresearch - Palliative Care Knowledge Network

• Conferences
• Short Courses
• University Courses

ETHICO-LEGAL ISSUES

• Advance Care Planning - Advance care planning means supporting people to think about, and plan for, their wishes
• Advance Health Directive (Qld)
• Advance Health Directive - literature (RACGP)
• Advance Health Directive DVD also available from SCDGP
• Advance Care Plan
• Advance Care Planning Contact Information Sheet for Patients
• Enduring Power of Attorney
• Adult Guardian (Qld) - The role of the Adult Guardian is to protect the rights and interests of adults with impaired capacity

COMMUNICATION

• Effective Communication
• Conducting a Family Conference
• Case Conferencing
• Chronic Disease Allied Health (Individual) Services under Medicare - formerly EPC

END OF LIFE

• The Role of the Medical Practitioner in End of Life Care
• Diagnosing End of Life
• Symptom Management
• Palliation from the Doctor's Bag

SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN

• Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement
• Journeys is an online resource that provides information and support to families when a child is diagnosed with a progressive life limiting illness
• Young Carers (Qld)
• The Children and Young People Bereavement Centre Brisbane

SPIRITUAL CARE

• Suffering, Loss and Grief in Palliative Care
• Spirituality in the Medical Setting
• EPERC Spirituality Fast Facts

Your patient/family may already have a connection with a Faith Tradition. Identify any already establised connections.

Access to Spiritual Care from a Faith Tradition:

Public Hospital Inpatient
Public hospitals have provision under Queensland Health to provide spiritual care:

• Hospital staff to contact the hospital Chaplaincy Department or Pastoral Care Team
• Hospital staff to access patient's preferred Faith Tradition via Yellow Pages noting the nearest church office to request assistance or hospital visit
• For people with no affiliation to a Faith Tradition, you may still contact the Pastoral or Chaplaincy Teams in Public Hospitals

Private Hospital Inpatient



Community Patient

• Community palliative care service nursing or social work department - these services have access to Faith Tradition contacts
• Residential Aged Care Facilities have access to a Chaplain or Faith Tradition contacts
• No services involved - access patient's preferred Faith Tradition via Yellow Pages noting the nearest church office to request assistance or home visit

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples

• Contact QH Indigenous Health Program Team Leader on 5450 4794
• Indigenous Resources

GRIEF, LOSS AND BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT

• Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement
• GriefLink
• Palliative Care Information Service
• End of Life / Palliative Education Resource Centre (EPERC) - Grief and Bereavement Facts

Accessing Support for Patients / Carers

• The community service involved with the patient/family for direct support or information regarding alternate agency
• Sunshine Coast Community Hospice - Contact Grief Counsellor Coordinator on 5471 1793
• QH Community Health Centres
• Sunshine Coast Central Intake - phone 5450 4750 / fax 5440 4788
• Gympie Community Health - phone 5489 8690 / fax 5489 8699
• Allied Health Referral - Referral to FOCUS (SCDGP) Health Professional
• Referral to private Social Worker or Psychologist
• Contact Sunshine Coast Wide Bay Health Service District Palliative Care Service for advice and referral on 5470 5333

Download Resources

• Understanding Grief
• Supporting parents after the death of a child

INFORMATION AND RESOURCES TO SUPPORT CARERS

• LivingCaringWorking - Improving quality of life for people with a life threatening illness, their families, carers and communities
• For Patients and Families
• Community Education and Activities
• Respecting Patient Choices - FAQs
• Palliative Care Information Service
• Carers Queensland, Carer Advisory and Counselling Service - 1800 242 636
                 Telephone support and face-to-face counselling
                  Loss & Grief Counselling

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