Palliative care — South Canterbury

To contact the palliative care team:

• phone: 03 687 2421
• fax: 03 687 2309

The palliative care team is at:

Woollcombe House
18 Woollcombe Street
Timaru 7910

Palliative care improves the quality of life of patients with life-threatening illness through the prevention and relief of suffering. This is by promptly identifying, assessing and treating pain and other problems — the problems may be physical, psychosocial or spiritual. 

Palliative care can be given at home, in hospital, in an aged care facility or at a hospice.

The palliative care team works alongside your general practice team, hospital services, district nursing, aged care facilities, Hospice South Canterbury, community agencies, whānau, friends and spiritual advisors.

Services we provide include:

• symptom assessment and support
• care at home
• advice by phone
• access to the Hospice South Canterbury inpatient unit
• aged care facilities
• social worker support
• Whānau Ora service
• spiritual support and care
• bereavement care
• access to a hospice counsellor
• a hospice cottage day programme
• family support
• palliative care home drug kits
• advance care planning
• ongoing education to patients and health professionals.

Hospice South Canterburyexternal link

Advance care planning — Health New Zealandexternal link

You can access our service directly by phoning the number above or you can ask to be referred by your regular healthcare provider, hospital specialist or nurse. 

We also accept referrals from other hospitals, other health professionals and government and community agencies.