Palliative Care Experience Improvements For St George Hospital And Kogarah Calvary Health Care

Patients, families and carers in the St George area will soon benefit from refurbishments to palliative care facilities at St George Hospital and Kogarah Calvary Health Care.

Thanks to NSW Government funding Kogarah Calvary Health Care will purchase 16 medi-fold beds which allow family members to sleep next to patients.

St George Hospital will use the funds to update quiet rooms and purchase a number of sofa beds for rooms unable to accommodate companion beds.

Member for Oatley, Mark Coure, said the refurbishments will help bring some comfort to patients and their families during this difficult time.

“The NSW Government understands that having a loved one in palliative care can be a stressful time which is why it is investing in improving experiences for patients and their loved ones.”

“These new facilities at St George Hospital and Kogarah Calvary Health Care will bring comfort to families and give them the opportunity to stay with their loved ones, providing support in a soothing environment.”

“Across the South Eastern Sydney Local Health District $300,000 will be spent improving environments for people in palliative care.”

In addition to St George Hospital and Kogarah Calvary Health Care, a further 32 palliative care facilities across the state will be refurbished over the next two years, with planning underway for additional projects from 2021.

The NSW Government committed $10 million in 2019 for palliative care facility refurbishments, as part of a $45 million enhancement over four years for palliative care, announced in the 2019-20 NSW budget. This funding is part of the record $10.1 billion the NSW Government is investing in health infrastructure over the next four years.

The NSW Government’s 2019-20 Budget commitment also includes recruitment of 100 new palliative care nurses, more Aboriginal Health Workers, and support for digital health to improve access to palliative care. This is in addition to the $100 million palliative care package announced in the 2017-18 Budget.