Palliative Care Northern Territory is calling for urgent investment in community palliative care, warning that just six specialist community palliative care nurses currently support Territorians across the entire NT.
Speaking with Katie Woolf on radio MIX 104.9’s 360, Palliative Care NT Secretary Sarah Begley said there are three specialist community palliative care nurses in Darwin, two in Alice Springs and just one in Katherine – with these small teams also expected to support people living in remote communities.
“Six specialist community palliative care nurses to support people across the Territory who want to die at home is simply not enough,” Ms Begley said.
The shortage can determine whether Territorians who want to spend their final days at home are able to do so, particularly when overnight nursing support or symptom management is required. In Katherine, the single community palliative care nurse may be required to provide around-the-clock support when someone is dying at home.
Palliative Care NT is calling for at least two additional specialist community palliative care nursing positions for each service in Alice Springs, Darwin and Katherine, as well as sustainable NT Government funding for Palliative Care NT, which is currently run by volunteers and is the only jurisdictional palliative care peak body in Australia not funded by its government.
“Palliative care is about living until you die – helping people live well, remain connected to their families and, when they choose, die comfortably at home,” Ms Begley said.
“With voluntary assisted dying bringing end-of-life care into focus, this is an opportunity to strengthen palliative care at the same time. It cannot be either-or. Territorians deserve access to both choice and high-quality palliative care.”
About us:
Palliative Care NT is the Northern Territory’s peak body for palliative care. Our role is to raise awareness of palliative care and improve access for all Territorians. Our mission is to influence, foster and promote the delivery of quality palliative care for all. We do not deliver clinical services. In the NT specialist palliative care services are delivered by Territory Palliative Care.
