Caritas Christi Kew was the first inpatient palliative care facility in Victoria, founded in 1938 by the Sisters of Charity. Over the years Caritas Christi grew to provide a range of both palliative care and aged care services reaching over 100 inpatient beds.
In the late 1990's, one Caritas palliative care ward was relocated from Kew to the 6th floor of St Vincent's Hospital Inpatient Services Building in Fitzroy. In early 2000, the aged care component came under the remit of St Georges and St Vincent's Aged Care Services. In January 2008, Caritas Christi, St Georges Hospital, Prague House and St Vincent's Hospital became one legal entity - St Vincent's Hospital (Melbourne) Incorporated. St Vincent’s Hospital is a public hospital that aims to provide optimal nursing and medical care in an atmosphere of Christian love and compassion, according to the values of the Sisters of Charity.
St Vincent’s Palliative Care Services is dedicated to providing the best possible healthcare, drawing on the talents and creativity of staff, volunteers and others who share a vision to:
- Continue the healing ministry of Christ, which upholds the dignity of each individual and promotes wholeness and transformation as life nears its end.
- Create an environment in which the values and culture of patients and their families are respected.
- Achieve excellence in palliative and aged care practice, education and research.
- Collaborate with community, aged and acute care services in the delivery of integrated palliative and aged care.
St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne has a long and proud history of providing excellent end of life care.
As our health service continues to strive to be a leader in palliative care, we celebrated the release last month of our Palliative Care Strategic Plan.
The Palliative Care Strategic Plan provides a framework that supports St Vincent’s to be known locally, nationally and internationally as one of Australia’s leading providers of evidence based palliative care.
The strategic commitments of St Vincent’s Melbourne Palliative Care Services are:
1. Capability
People with life limiting conditions receiving palliative and end of life care are consistently experiencing excellent care utilising best practice evidence. This is occurring in specialist and generalist settings in hospitals and in their homes.
2. Visibility and Identity
More people will have early access to palliative care and specialist support through the benefits and value of palliative care being better understood, more visible and accessible.
3. Unity
Our St Vincent’s community will benefit from an integrated Palliative Care Service that enables the combined clinical, education and research components of the St Vincent’s Palliative Care Service to strengthen each aspect and take full advantage of the Service’s uniqueness.
Prof Jennifer Philip - Head of Unit
Fitzroy
Email - pccsadmin@svha.org.au
Tel - (03) 9231 1389
Kew
Email - CCH.Reception@svha.org.au
Tel - (03) 9056 1050