“Palliative care is an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing life threatening illness, through the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification and impeccable assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, physical, psychosocial and spiritual”
(World Health Organization, 2002)
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The Australian and New Zealand Society of Palliative Medicine
The Australian and New Zealand Society of Palliative Medicine (ANZSPM) is a specialty medical society that facilitates professional development and support for its members and promotes the practice of palliative medicine. Our members are medical practitioners who provide care for people with a life threatening illness.
Contact:
Marita Linkson
Executive Officer, ANZSPM
PO Box 7001
WATSON ACT 2602
Tel: 0458 203 229
[email protected]Palliative Care Nurses New Zealand
Palliative Care Nurses New Zealand (PCNNZ) represents nurses from ALL care settings who either work in or have an interest within the specialty of palliative care. It is a non profit making organization which since its conception in 2006 has sought to strengthen the voices of nursing in palliative care.
Contact:
Jan Clark
72 St Kilda Rd RD1 Cambridge 3493
New Zealand
Tel 078398691
[email protected] -
All hospices can be accessed through the Hospice New Zealand website. www.hospice.org.nz
There are also many hospital palliative care services eg in Auckland, Waikato, Christchurch, Wellington and Dunedin Hospitals. To enquire about these services, please get in contact with your local hospital.
Two examples of hospices that provide excellence in palliative care are:
Te Omanga Hospice
Te Omanga Hospice is a Charitable Trust that specialises in support and care for those living with a terminal illness, helping patients to make the most of their life that remains and ensuring that they die comfortably with dignity and in their own homes if they wish. The Hospice also provides support and care for the family and close friends during the patient’s illness and in bereavement. All the Hospice services are provided free of charge to its 600 plus patients each year. The Hospice has been providing its services to the Hutt Valley community since 1979.
Mary Potter Hospice
The vision of Mary Potter Hospice is… “Making the Most of Life”.It aims to provide the best quality specialist care it can to people living with a terminal illness and to give their families the support they need. “The care we provide acknowledges the uniqueness of each person and and we strive to work in partnership to meet patient and family needs.” Mary Potter Hospice belongs to the people of Wellington, Porirua and the Kapiti Coast. It is an integrated programme to support people and their families in their own homes. There is an inpatient unit in Wellington, a day facility in Paraparaumu and a Palliative Care base in Porirua.
Healthcare assistants that specialise in palliative care:
Nova Palliative Care
This is a specialist care nursing agency. It is not a nursing agency with a specialist team, but an entirely dedicated palliative care agency. All Nova Palliative Care healthcare assistants are trained specially in palliative care. Their registered nurses are all experienced in palliative care and, along with the healthcare assistants receive regular education updates.
Contact:
PO Box 111
Te Awamutu 3840
New Zealand
Phone: (07) 871 6772 or 0800 89 6772