A dedicated Palliative Care Unit is located on the ground floor of Sunshine Hospital. The unit cares for those patients with a life-threatening illness who cannot be cared for at home, as well as those who require short term management of symptoms. Patients referred for indefinite care must have a prognosis of less than 4 to 6 weeks.
The multidisciplinary healthcare team provides symptom management and comprehensive support to patients, their carers and families. Support is available according to need and includes physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, social work and spiritual care.
There are 20 inpatient beds, with 10 of these being single rooms. Single rooms are allocated according to need and availability cannot be guaranteed. There is also a lounge area as well as a small kitchen. Pets are welcome to visit if arranged with the Nurse in Charge. There is a private garden with trees which provides an alternative area for patients to spend time with their families or for families to spend time on their own.
Referrals are accepted from healthcare providers and can be made by contacting the unit directly and completing the necessary referral form.
Referrals approved for admission are placed on a waitlist until a bed in the unit becomes available.
To make a referral, access the BHCI referral page, then select WHBMCPC (Western Health Bacchus Marsh Community Palliative Care) as the service to refer to.
Palliative Care Unit Sunshine Hospital
Phone: 03 8345 1792
