Palliative Care
Gibson Unit
The Gibson ward at located at our St John’s Hospital. The unit is 21 beds, specialising in oncology and palliative care. We are passionate about providing holistic, patient and family centred care during the cancer treatment and during the end of life care phase.
We recognise the importance of a good environment to ensure comfortable rest, healing and quiet family time. Most rooms on the unit are single bedrooms with futon couches for family members to stay overnight. Large bay windows are present in most rooms, some even with direct access to our beautiful garden and courtyard.
Here on Gibson we recognised the importance of delivering exceptional patient centred care, focused on your goals and wishes, supporting you and those you love.
We do this by, actively listening, engaging with patients and their family to enable holistic care, delivered in calm and peaceful surroundings.
We are proud to have a large designated room for families and patients nearing the end of life. This room includes a double sized medical bed (fondly called the “Cuddle” bed)-allowing loved ones to lay and sleep next to each other.
Our experienced and specialist staff focus on supporting patients who have a life limiting illness or are nearing the end of their life. Our cohort of patients can include a wide range of conditions, such as chronic diseases, cancers and degenerative illnesses.
We ensure our patients and loved ones have autonomy over the right to choose their care. The Gibson multidisciplinary team streamlines the process to ensure dignity, comfort and the best possible quality of life.
Our allied health team, nursing staff and specialists work together to provide symptom management including psychological and spiritual aspects of patient care and build relationships between patients, families, the community and the healthcare team.
We are fortunate to have a team of dedicated volunteers who work behind the scenes to assist in the provision of high quality supportive care. Some of which work with our patients and families, talking through their hardships, playing cards, and sharing images of pets; whatever it may be to help ease the burden of illness.
Gibson Unit supports patients’ and families’ right to choose their preferred location of care. The Gibson dedicated team will facilitate a safe transition to home with comprehensive support plans consisting of community support providers, your GP and Community Specialist Palliative Care service.
We recognise the importance of you having input when it comes to decisions about end of life care and we work with you to facilitate your wishes.
Some of the special care and comfort the unit provides include:
- Access to complimentary oncology massage
- Quality handmade quilts, gowns and patient care bags donated by our community partners and the Bruny Island Sew and Sews
- Complimentary use of iPads and Bluetooth headsets with Netflix, music, podcasts and video calling
- Visits from pet dogs can be arranged on request
- Spaces for you to walk/spend time – e.g Webber lounge/mary potter room
Contact details of the unit are as follows
Feature Photos
Beautiful Gardens surround our ward