A step in the right direction for palliative care

Palliative Care Tasmania (PCT) has welcomed the Government’s election commitment of new funding for the palliative care sector and for PCT.

If re-elected, $52million is promised over the next four years to strengthen palliative and community health care, this is new money entering the sector.

Specifically, $21.55 million is promised, to improve palliative care across the state, with focus on the much needed after hours and community in-home palliative care services that the sector has strongly been advocating for.

CEO of PCT Colleen Johnstone says, “We are grateful for the acknowledgement that our sector needs significant and sustainable investment to meet the current needs of Tasmanians living with a life limiting illness.

This announcement is definitely a step in the right direction, in addition to investment in infrastructure and acute services, we need to be simultaneously investing in community, in-home and locally delivered services in order to meet the current and future demands of palliative care” she said.

The election commitment includes $4.25 million over four years for Palliative Care Tasmania, the state’s peak body for palliative care. The funding will ensure PCT can deliver vital work in the community, including palliative care education and training programs, workforce development initiatives and programs that will develop community capacity which will be required to meet the future needs of dying Tasmanians.

“We’d like to sincerely thank both Health Minister Sarah Courtney and the Premier for their personal commitments to palliative care and we look forward to working with all of our stakeholders to sustain and strengthen the palliative care sector and ensure greater access to palliative care support for all Tasmanians,” said Colleen.

-ends (278)

Media Contact:

Election Commitment

STRENGTHEN PALLIATIVE AND COMMUNITY HEALTH CARE WITH AN ADDITIONAL $52.0 MILLION FOR IN-HOME AND LOCAL COMMUNITY-DELIVERED HEALTH SERVICES

A re-elected Majority Liberal Government will provide $52.0 million over the next four financial years to support this care in the community, including –

• $27.5 million to continue our Community Rapid Response Service hospital-in-the-home type services in all regions of the State, and to further pilot hospital in the home services.
• $10.5 million in additional funding to significantly strengthen our in-home palliative care and after hour care services, significantly improving end of life care especially in rural and regional communities.
• $6.8 million to provide better palliative care services, in partnership with private hospitals and service providers.
• $1.0 million for a Hospital Avoidance Co-Investment fund, to match private sector investment on a dollar-for-dollar basis to support capital upgrades for GPs and Primary Care providers who will improve or expand their facilities in order to deliver improved after-hours care. This is in addition to the $3 million already announced for GPs to support after-hours service delivery.
• $600,000 for the Heart Foundation, to support patients following their hospitalisation for a heart attack or angina.
• $1.4 million for Community Transport Services Tasmania and its 400 loyal volunteers to continue to support Tasmanians to access care. In a typical year, CTST will make more than 170,000 trips across Tasmania, travelling more than four million kilometres.

This will also include $4.25 million for Palliative Care Tasmania so they can continue their successful GP education and training programs, workforce development and community education and awareness.