Palliative care patients in the Goldfields will benefit from expanded services including community based palliative care support, a new specialist district palliative care team and have access to 24-hour nursing care via community based nursing and Telehealth.
The funding forms part of the McGowan Government’s record investment to strengthen palliative care services announced in the 2019-20 State Budget.
A total of $3.6 million has been earmarked for the Goldfields and is set to include the establishment of new specialist district palliative care teams comprising of medical, nursing, allied health and Aboriginal health workers.
An additional 8.35 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions will be established to best support the needs of palliative care patients in the Goldfields, providing care closer to home with a boost to community based services, provision of in-home palliative care support and ensuring palliative care on-country visits are delivered.
The extra resourcing builds on the current 4.1 FTE currently engaged to provide palliative care services, bringing the total to 12.45 FTE. (*Final FTE and configuration will be determined as the models of care are established.)
The WA Country Health Service will now also be able to develop 24-hour nursing care via community based nursing and Telehealth to palliative care patients who wish to die at home.
The McGowan Government has today made an additional $4.5 million commitment to palliative care in rural and regional Western Australia including:
- $2.5 million to enhance rural and regional palliative care services by improving governance to refine models of palliative care to ensure they best support the needs of rural and regional patients; and
- $6.3 million to fund community based palliative care across Western Australia, of which $2 million will be dedicated to country Western Australia.
This package of measures brings the total investment by the State Government for palliative care services for Western Australia over the next four years to $224 million.
As stated by Health Minister Roger Cook:
“Palliative care service expansion means we’ll see at least eight more positions established to deliver palliative care locally – allowing our sickest and most vulnerable residents of the Goldfields to be cared for comfortably and closer to home.
“This funding will enable the WA Country Health Service to deliver 24-hour nursing care via community based nursing and Telehealth to palliative care patients in the Goldfields who wish to die at home.
“The McGowan Government has committed to enhancing palliative care services in the Goldfields and the WA Country Health Service will continue to bring this to fruition by completing planning as a priority.”
As stated by Mining and Pastoral Region MLC Kyle McGinn:
“Better support for palliative care in regional areas like the Goldfields is so crucial for people who are already going through a difficult time as they reach their final stages of life.
“Having palliative care support in the form of community based services means local people are provided with in-home palliative care support and will help ensure palliative care on-country visits are delivered.
“The expanded services mean local patients, their families and friends are better supported with additional nursing care and through a specialist palliative care team in-person, closer to home.
“Through conversations and surveys with my electorate, palliative care has frequently been raised as an area that needs work. I have fed these issues back to my colleagues and I am pleased to see the McGowan Labor Government is continuing to work to ensure high-quality in-home palliative care is available to regional people.”
Minister’s office – 5662 6500
