Member for Tweed, Geoff Provest, welcomes the NSW Government’s injection an additional $743 million into palliative care and other specialist health services, saying it will bring greater comfort and dignity to NSW residents with life-limiting illnesses.
Mr Provest said the five-year funding is on top of the $300 million the NSW Government invests in palliative care services each year.
“It is estimated that of the 50,000 people on average that die in NSW each year, 70 per cent could benefit from palliative care services,” Mr Provest said.
“Today’s announcement will significantly boost funding for end-of-life palliative care, delivering equitable access to pain management services, avoiding unnecessary hospitals stays and providing comfort and dignity to NSW residents at end of life.”
“Bed capacity and the number of palliative care nurses will be increased across the health system, which means people in regional NSW will spend less time in the ED and more time in a comfortable setting when being assessed or treated.”
“We will also deliver more outpatient services including extra community health staff, additional home support packages, and virtual care in regional NSW, allowing people to receive care closer to their families.”
The $743 million funding over five years includes $650 million to:
- employ an extra 600 nurses, allied health professionals, doctors, and support staff
- boost hospital capacity and implement best-practice models for supportive and palliative care
- improve access to pain management services for patients with life-limiting illness, to help patients and their family and carers
- improve services for people with late stage chronic and degenerative conditions, and cancer
- further strengthen outpatient and community health services
- support consumer choice and excellence in end-of-life and palliative care
- strengthen virtual care, transport and equipment programs
- improve partnership with non-Government organisations, primary care and aged care services.
A further $93 million will be used for capital investment, to redevelop and refurbish palliative care facilities operated by NSW Health.