When should I call the palliative care team?

Australia · 29 August 2026 · 4 min read · Reviewed by Dr Kane Treble

Call the palliative care team when symptoms change, medicines are not working as expected, the care plan is unclear, equipment is not working, or you are worried about the person or your ability to keep caring safely.

You do not need to wait for a crisis. Palliative care teams are there to help manage symptoms, plan ahead, support carers and adjust care as the person's needs change.

General information: This page gives general information for people in Australia. It cannot tell you exactly what is happening in one person's situation. If you have concerns about a symptom, medicine, treatment decision or change in someone's condition, contact their doctor, palliative care team, nurse or other treating health professional.

Call for symptom changes

Call if the person has new or worsening pain, breathlessness, nausea, vomiting, agitation, confusion, constipation, seizures, falls, wounds, fever, trouble swallowing, or distress that worries you.

Some changes can happen when someone is dying, but there can be other causes. The team can help decide whether the plan is still right or whether the person needs review.

Call about medicines

Call if:

medicines do not seem to help
breakthrough doses are needed more often
the person is too sleepy, confused or twitchy after medicines
you are unsure whether to give a dose
the medicine chart, label or dose is unclear
a dose was missed, spilled, vomited or possibly given twice
you are running low on medicines before a weekend or public holiday

Do not change regular medicines yourself unless the team has told you exactly what to do.

Call about equipment

Call if a syringe driver alarms, stops, leaks, comes loose, or the skin site becomes red, swollen or painful. Also call if oxygen equipment, a hospital bed, pressure mattress, continence equipment or other aids are not working and this affects comfort or safety.

Call when caring is becoming unsafe

You can call because you are exhausted, frightened or unsure. That is a valid reason. Carers may need extra visits, respite, clearer instructions, medicine review, equipment, or a backup plan.

Victorian community palliative care guidance notes that specialist community palliative care services usually provide around-the-clock telephone advice and urgent nursing visits, although rural arrangements may differ. Other states and local services have their own arrangements, so use the contact numbers you were given.

Call before a predictable problem

If you are worried about the coming night, a planned transfer, a family disagreement, a medicine supply issue, or a symptom that keeps returning, call earlier in the day if you can. It is often easier to fix problems before pharmacies close and staff change shifts.

Ask for a written plan if you do not have one. Ask who to call after hours and what to say when you phone.

When another service may be better

Call a pharmacist for questions about storage, supply, medicine labels or returning unused medicines. Call the GP for general medical problems if they are leading the care. Call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 if you need health advice and cannot reach the usual team.

Call 000 for life-threatening emergencies.

When to get help now

Call the palliative care team urgently if symptoms are severe, frightening, rapidly worsening, or not settling after the written plan has been followed.

Call 000 if the person is not breathing, cannot be woken, has severe uncontrolled bleeding, is choking, has a serious injury, or you suspect overdose.