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This information sheet has been given to you by ambulance paramedics because they have provided treatment for yourself or someone in your care who is under the care of a community palliative care team. It contains important information on how to look after yourself and what to do if your condition changes.

Key messages

• Treatment is aimed at managing the patient's symptoms.
• Paramedics will try to support the patient if they wish to stay at home.
• If transport to hospital is requested or required, a non-emergency ambulance may be called.

Information for patients/carers
What is palliative care?

Palliative care improves symptom management and coordination of care for people with serious illness. Symptoms may include pain, shortness of breath or nausea/vomiting. Many patients receiving support from a community palliative care service wish to stay at home for treatment rather than be taken to hospital. Paramedics will do their best to support the decisions that the patient has made about where their care takes place.

There is a symptom management plan in place. How will paramedics use it?

If an ambulance is called it may be because the symptom management plan is not sufficiently managing the current symptoms, or there is a new, unexpected issue or symptom that you are unsure how to manage and the palliative care team is not available after hours.

Paramedics will consider the plan that is in place and can provide medication to assist, according to a treatment plan that has been worked out with palliative care specialists. The goal is to control the symptoms sufficiently until the patient's own community palliative care service can attend and adjust the care plan if required.

Treatment and Home Care

One of the key components of care is that it is centred on the patient's wishes and they are included in decision-making. Many patients in palliative care prefer to be cared for at home because of the familiar environment, feeling of independence and close access to their family, friends and community.

Paramedics may offer treatment and then assess the effectiveness of the treatment. The paramedics may then discuss whether or not the patient needs or wishes to go to hospital. If the patient or their family request that the patient is taken to hospital, it may be appropriate for the attending ambulance to leave and arrange for a non-emergency ambulance to attend within an appropriate timeframe.

Emergency help

It may be appropriate to call an ambulance again via 000 if the symptoms recur before the palliative care team is available and the existing care plan is still not working.

Support for carers

Looking after someone with a life-limiting illness can be physically and emotionally difficult at times. If required, support services can be accessed through your doctor, the community palliative care service or through Carers Victoria.

Seeking help

In a medical emergency, call an ambulance on 000.

If the patient is receiving care from a community palliative care service, make contact with them to discuss your concerns.

If the patient is not formally receiving care from a community palliative care service, paramedics will not be able to treat them and leave them at home unless their own doctor is able to assume care for them.

Victorian Virtual Emergency Department (VVED) is also available to treat non-life-threatening emergencies. You will be connected to emergency doctors and nurses who will provide medical advice. Please note you will need a device (mobile phone, tablet, computer) with a camera to use this service.

Contact VVED through the website vved.org.au. If you experience issues, please call 9485 9070

If the patient is deceased and the community palliative care service or the patient's own doctor is not available, 000 can be called and will provide assistance with what to do next. It should be mentioned during the phone call that active resuscitation is not being requested.

Want to know more?

• Consult the treating doctor or community palliative care service for information on the care plan.
• Visit the Better Health Channel at www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au or Palliative Care Victoria at www.pallcarevic.asn.au for general information on palliative care.

Ambulance Victoria is a critical link in Victoria's healthcare system. We welcome your comments as they assist us to improve our services. If you wish to provide feedback, please contact Patient Experience and Consumer Participation Department either via patientexperience@ambulance.vic.gov.au or telephone 1800 875 137.

Information for the palliative care team

To assist Paramedics to provide the best care for the patient, individualised care plans can be set up in collaboration between the community palliative care service and AV. If you wish to do so, the palliative care service can contact the AV Quality Review Team via 8847 8723 or qrt@ambulance.vic.gov.au.