Palliative care for people with serious or life-threatening illness aims to help the patient live more comfortably rather than curing the disease.
This treatment approach improves the patient's quality of life by addressing social, psychological and spiritual needs as well as physical needs such as pain and symptom relief.

The hospital now employs palliative care specialists who can be added to the team of health professionals looking after patients in hospital when appropriate.

The hospital contracts to North Haven Hospice to provide inpatient palliative care as part of the patients' care team for Northland residents.

The palliative care specialist can be requested to have input for a patient by members of the health professional team. The patient or family/whanau can also request a referral to be made to this service.

No charges apply to this service.