END-OF-LIFE CARE ENHANCED IN NSW

Member for Manly James Griffin MP welcomes the NSW Government’s injection of $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 Griffin 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 Griffin said.

“Today’s announcement will significantly boost funding for end-of-life palliative care, delivering equitable access to pain management services, avoiding unnecessary hospital stays and providing comfort and dignity to NSW residents at end of life.”

Mr Griffin said palliative care and end-of-life health professionals provide an untold amount of comfort to patients and families and he welcomes 600 more such professionals being added to the NSW workforce.

“Our health professionals and dedicated palliative care staff provide so much comfort to those suffering from life-limiting illness,” Mr Griffin said.

“I am pleased that this funding boost will allow us to support staff and services to continue that high-quality and compassionate care into the future.”

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 NSW Health facilities, including new dedicated palliative care units at Westmead Hospital and Nepean Hospital.