The future for palliative care services in NSW will be discussed at statewide roundtables with the community and health professionals, Minister for Health Brad Hazzard and Parliamentary Secretary Leslie Williams announced today.

Mr Hazzard will host the first roundtable at Parliament House on Wednesday 26 April 2017, which will give medical and nursing specialists and organisations an opportunity to contribute to the NSW Government’s new strategy for palliative care.

“The NSW Government recognises that, when faced with this most difficult time, the needs of individual patients do differ greatly,” Mr Hazzard said.

“One of my top priorities is to provide better end-of life-care and more tailored, community-based palliative care services for our patients.

“We committed $35 million in 2013, followed by another $32 million in 2015, to increase the choices and support services available to people.”

Mrs Williams will lead the roundtables throughout regional NSW, with the first in Orange on Monday 1 May, followed by Lismore, Kempsey, Broken Hill, Tamworth, Griffith, Goulburn and Kiama over following months.

“While the Liberals and Nationals have strengthened the resourcing of palliative care, more needs to be done. We are in step with the community on the need for quality palliative care to extend to every corner of the state,” Mrs Williams said.

The NSW Government has provided substantive palliative care support including:

• more than 7,000 support packages as part of our Last Days of Life Home Support Service to help people who want to die at home
• some 23 palliative care initiatives across 18 Local Health Districts and specialty health networks as part of a $12 million Flexible Funding Pool
• palliative care after-hours helpline (1800 548 225) with Healthdirect Australia
• 200 paediatric “pop-up” interventions
• pledged $2 million for Big Bear Cottage, a new service for young adults.

For more information, contact Tish Bruce, Executive Director Health and Social Policy (02) 9424 5944.