When to call your palliative care team, and when to call 000

The short answer: call your palliative care team first. Most problems that happen at home in the final weeks are things they can help you manage without going to hospital. Calling them is not an overreaction. It is exactly what they are there for.

When should I call my palliative care team?

Call your palliative care team for any of these:

You do not need to be certain before you call. If something feels wrong, that is reason enough.

Most palliative care teams have an after-hours line. The number should be on your discharge paperwork or care plan. If you cannot find it, call the hospital ward they were last treated on and ask for the on-call palliative care nurse.

When you call, it helps to have:

• Pain that feels worse than usual or is not responding to their current medication
• Breathing that has become more laboured or distressed
• A new symptom you have not seen before
• Agitation, restlessness, or confusion that has come on suddenly
• Vomiting that is not settling
• A change in their condition that is worrying you, even if you cannot describe exactly what
• Their full name and date of birth
• A brief description of what has changed and when it started
• Their current medications, if you have the list nearby
• Your location, in case they need to arrange a visit

When should I call 000 instead?

Some situations are always emergencies. Do not call the palliative care team first. Call 000 immediately if:

If you are not sure whether something is a 000 situation, it is fine to call your palliative care team first and ask. They will tell you to call 000 if that is what is needed.

• They are unresponsive and you cannot wake them
• They are having a seizure
• They are choking or their airway is blocked
• There is uncontrolled bleeding
• They have had a sudden, severe fall with possible injury
• You are in danger

What if I am not yet connected with a palliative care team?

If the person you are caring for does not yet have a palliative care team in place, now is the time to set that up. Having the team in place before a difficult night makes everything easier.

Read the guide to setting up palliative care support, use the specialist finder to locate a palliative care service near you, or search by postcode at Palliative Care Australia (palliativecare.org.au).