$743 Million to enhance end-of-life Palliative Care in NSW

Local residents will have access to the highest quality care and pain management services at the end of their life, with palliative care and specialist health services to receive a record $743 million funding boost over the next five years.

Member for Oatley, Mark Coure, welcome the announcement as an important step in ensuring that the most vulnerable in our community are supported during their darkest hours.

“The NSW Government is committed to ensuring NSW has the best palliative care services and support in the nation, it is our duty to make sure those at the end of their life are made as comfortable as possible.” Mr Coure said.

“This funding will significantly boost end-of-life palliative care, delivering equitable access to pain management services, avoiding unnecessary hospital stays and providing comfort and dignity to local residents at the end of their life.”

This five-year funding is on top of the $300 million the NSW Government invests in palliative care services each year.

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.