HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS

Wedgetail Retreat is a hospice in Dulguigan and is owned and operated by Tweed Palliative Support Inc., a non-profit registered charity that has been operating in Tweed Shire and surrounding areas since 1998. 

The care team at Wedgetail Retreat is led by dedicated Palliative Care Registered Nurses who aim to create a home like environment whilst delivering compassionate and professional care. It is the expectation that all patients being admitted to Wedgetail Retreat have a medication chart with pre-emptive medications for potential deterioration done by their pre-admission General Practitioner.

Whilst we prioritise End-of-Life Care we also cater to those on the Palliative Care Register who need respite.

There are 4 beds at Wedgetail Retreat and the number of guests at any given time is transient.

You are welcome to continue overseeing your patient’s care at Wedgetail Retreat once admitted or you can handover to the Hospice GP and our team.

We work closely with the NSW Health Specialist Palliative Care Team. We have the invaluable support of the Palliative Care Staff Specialist and Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner from the local health district.  The staff specialist can be consulted on any patient with complex care needs. 

Referring a patient to Wedgetail Retreat Hospice

Referrals can be made by healthcare professionals, including General Practitioners (GP), specialist doctors, community agencies and/or allied health. A referral must be received before accepting an admission. Referrals are triaged by the management team.

Key indicators that influence priority admissions for Respite or End-of-Life Care are: 

Respite Admission

• Diagnosis of a life-limiting illness

• The patient and/or their caregiver are experiencing existential distress

• The patient’s caregiver is burnt out and requires respite

• The patient must have a confirmed discharge destination post-admission

• A respite admission is for 1 or 2 weeks depending on the circumstances.  Respite at Wedgetail is not to be used to support aged care placement issues/limitations

End-of-Life Admission

• Patients’ prognosis is short weeks (6 weeks or less)

• The patient and/or caregiver are no longer coping at home

• The patient does not wish to die at home or in the hospital

Barriers to Admission (Patients who will not be accepted for admission):

• Patients who are combative

• Patients who are cognitively impaired

• Patients who are bariatric

• Patients who have a potential to wander or have a mental health condition where one Registered Nurse cannot safely facilitate holistic care to all the other patients in our care

 If you have concerns or questions regarding these parameters, please contact our Charge RN on (02) 6672 8161

Prior to a Hospice admission we encourage families to have discussions regarding end-of-life care so that we can assess what is most important for their loved ones. These discussions should include information on:

•  Will and Executor of the Will

•  An Advanced Care Directive for end-of-life wishes, such as a Not-For-Resuscitation Order

•  Funeral arrangements

•  Spiritual requirements

•  Information on Enduring Power of Attorney and/or nominated Health Guardians