Referrals

Referral Criteria

• The patient has a advanced, progressive, incurable illness (not only cancer, but also other end stage illnesses e.g. cardiac, renal, respiratory, neurological etc)
• No longer receiving curative treatment
• An approximate life expectancy of 12 months or less

NB: Admission to the hospice programme does not necessarily involve admission to the inpatient unit unless they have immediate symptom management issues that need to be addressed. The hospice programme provides support to enable patients to stay at home, in their own community for as long as possible.

Referral Process

Referrals come from the medical doctor / specialist caring for the person. However anyone may initiate the process e.g. Nurse, patient, family member etcOnce it has been established that the patient meets the above criteria; the possibility of a hospice referral is discussed with the person, their family and the healthcare team. If the referral is to proceed an OCH referral form is completed (with as much detail as possible) and forwarded to the hospice.Once the referral has been received, a Community Care Coordinator and Hospice Doctor will visit the person (or attend a hospice outpatient clinic if able) to introduce the service, complete a medical assessment and determine how we can best meet their needs.

Download the patient referral form here.