At Canossa Palliative Clinic we believe in accessible and affordable health care. All patients are bulk billed for Medical Practitioner consultations
To book please call us on (07) 3180 3872 , or Fax on (07) 3217 0789.
PLEASE OBTAIN A REFERRAL FROM YOUR DOCTOR
What is Palliative Care?
Palliative Care aims to provide comfort and support services to patients with life-limiting illnesses and their families.
At Canossa Private Hospital we believe palliative care affirms life and regards dying as a normal process.
Palliative Care neither hastens death nor prolongs life.
Who can be referred to the Palliative Care Unit?
Any patient with a life limiting illness who requires either symptom control or has reached the terminal phase of their disease.
The Process of Referral
All patients must be referred by a medical practitioner.
Patients referred by their GP’s are particularly welcome as it is the aim of the Unit to control symptoms as soon as possible to allow the patients to return home, and back to the care of their GP.
Inter-hospital transfers can be arranged by contacting the Palliative Care Admitting Officer.
The Specialist Palliative Care Team
Our approach to health care is to provide physical, emotional, social and spiritual care by utilising a range of skills and clinical experience in a specialist palliative care team.
The team includes:
- Palliative Care doctors – both specialist and GP’s with a special interest and training in palliative care
- Senior Nursing Staff – qualified in palliative care
- Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Social Workers, Speech Therapists Dieticians and other allied health professionals
- Bereavement Support
- Pastoral Care staff
Who can be referred to the Palliative Care Unit?
Any patient with a life limiting illness who requires either symptom control or has reached the terminal phase of their disease.
Hours of operation
The Clinics are held on Mondays and Thursdays – in Magdalen House – Level 3 between 0900 – 1200 hours.
All patients are bulk billed for Medical Practitioner consultations.
The Canossa Palliative Care Unit fulfils the commitment of the Canossian Sisters to provide respect, justice, compassion and love to the sick.
Dr Basil McNamara
Basil graduated from Sydney University in 1967 with an MBBS.
He wad admitted as a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in 1972.
Subsequently he spent a period of 8 years in the Pacific – initially in Lae, Papua New Guinea & subsequently as Head of the Department of Surgery in the new Lautoka Hospital in Fiji.
He returned to Australia to take up the position of Medical Superintendent of the Mackay Base Hospital.
During the next eleven tears – he fostered a growing interest in Palliative Care. Basil travelled to London – and completed a course of training at St Christopher’s Hospice.
On returning to Mackay he accepted the position of Honorary Director of Palliative Care at the Mater Hospital in a Unit that was established in the converted nun’s convent. This was the first unit recognised by the Queensland Department of Health outside the Brisbane Metropolitan Region.
Basil subsequently became the founding Medical Director of the Assisi Hospice in Singapore – a position he held for 3 years.
He returned to Australia – as an Associate in Palliative Care at the Wesley Hospital in Brisbane.
In 2008 – Basil accepted a position in the United Family Hospital in Shanghai. He was then appointed as a Staff Specialist in Palliative Care in Queensland Health.
Basil spent the next seven years as the Director of Palliative Care – Metro South Palliative Care Service – initially in Logan and Beaudesert Hospitals and subsequently in the QE 2 and Canossa Private Hospitals.
Basil accepted the role of Senior Medical Officer in Palliative Care at the Canossa Private Hospital – in January 2016 – a position he holds currently.