Overview
Our aims are:
- to provide relief from pain and other symptoms
- to provide support which allows the patient to live as actively as possible
- to work where appropriate in conjunction with other therapies, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy
- to provide the peace of mind of hospital care in a home-like environment.
Mercy Palliative Care offers 24-hour support and advice to patients in the community who are admitted to this program.
Getting here
Find us at:
Gabrielle Jennings Centre for Palliative Care, Werribee Mercy Hospital
300 Princes Highway
Werribee Victoria 3030
For more information on getting here, visit Gabrielle Jennings Centre or find out more about Werribee Mercy Hospital.
Location details
Gabrielle Jennings Centre
On-site signage and indicators
Look for the Palliative care signage is written in blue and is situated in the front of the car park. There is a separate external entrance to gain access to the ward. signs on-site.
How can people get access?
The Gabrielle Jennings Centre has its own entry during the hours of 7am–8pm.
Access out of those hours is by prior arrangement with the nurse-in-charge.
Opening hours
There are no set visiting hours. Up to three family members may stay overnight, following prior arrangements with the nurse-in-charge.
Your appointment
What to do before
Admission is referral based. Once advised of admission, in most cases, you will come directly to the Palliative Care unit.
What to bring
Please bring your:
- Medicare Card
- community palliative care history if you have one
- medications you are currently taking
- Healthcare Card/concession card/private health insurance card
- glasses/hearing aid if required
- clothing/pyjamas for your stay
Families can bring food for patients, which can be stored labelled in the patient fridge.
What to expect on the day
We have eight single rooms and two twin rooms allocated on the basis of each person’s clinical need. Patients may move rooms during their stay. Each bed has a television, radio and telephone. Families are required to arrange for access to the television ahead of time.
Visiting hours are flexible. Please discuss visiting options with a nurse at admission.
More information
Team Composition
Throughout your time in Gabrielle Jennings Centre you may meet:
- palliative care consultants and registrars
- our nurses
- social workers
- occupational therapists
- physiotherapists
- speech pathologists
- pastoral carers
- counsellors
- volunteers.
What questions should you ask
Please feel free to ask our staff any questions that you are concerned about.
Discharge information
Patients are reviewed by our team each day. We aim to provide care in the best location for each patient and this may involve transfer to other facilities with support from Mercy Palliative Care.
Additional support
Patients discharged from the palliative care unit may be referred to a community palliative care service for ongoing management of their pain and other symptoms at home.
Who to call if you have concerns afterwards
If you require a referral to community palliative care, you will be given a 24-hour number to call for any concerns.
If you do not require community services, you may call the ward number at any time to speak to a nurse regarding your concerns. You may need to be referred on to the appropriate health professional e.g. a counsellor.
For health professionals
We provide care for patients with advanced disease, both malignant and non-malignant, both for symptom management, psychosocial support and end-of-life care.
Please use the Mercy Palliative Care referral form when referring to inpatient, outpatients or community palliative care
How to prepare the patient
Gabrielle Jennings Centre for Palliative Care is a 12-bed inpatient palliative care unit. It is a public facility comprising eight single rooms and two twin bedrooms.
What/when you should refer to us
Patients with advanced disease, both malignant and non-malignant who require symptom management and /or end-of-life care.
All referrals need to be reviewed and accepted by the palliative care consultant.
Contacts
In case of emergency, call 000
Contacts
Gabrielle Jennings Centre for palliative care
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Phone numbers:
Gabrielle Jennings Centre for palliative care
03 8754 3731
- Phone number: 03 8754 3735
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Address:
Werribee Mercy Hospital
300 Princes Highway
Werribee Victoria 3030
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