National Palliative Care Week (NPCW) is an awareness week organised by Palliative Care Australia, and was held last week (22-28 May). The theme for 2022 was ‘It’s your right’. The theme sought to raise awareness about the rights of all Australians to access high-quality palliative care when and where they need it.
One of the great myths about palliative care is that it’s only a synonym for end-of-life care. In reality, it’s so much more than that. Anyone with a life-limiting illness has the right to live as well as possible, for as long as possible.
Palliative Care Australia outlines that the demand for palliative care is increasing, with the estimated demand in Australia expected to increase by 50% between now and 2035, and double by 2050. The population is growing and ageing, and many people will be diagnosed with chronic illnesses, which will increase the need and demand for palliative care in Australia.
PCA has developed a roadmap for meeting this burgeoning need for palliative care in Australia.
The Palliative Care Roadmap 2022 – 2027 addresses key areas which need to be prioritised, including:
- greater investment in dedicated palliative care services across Australia including rural and remote areas
- supporting and growing the palliative care workforce – this includes the specialist palliative care workforce and the workforce in primary care.
Healthy North Coast is embarking on a palliative and end-of-life care initiative
The intended overarching objectives of the new program are to:
- improve access to palliative care at home and support end-of-life care systems and services (in primary health care and community care)
- to enable the right care at the right time and in the right place.
Vanessa Gee has recently joined Healthy North Coast as the senior manager for Palliative and End-of-Life Care. Vanessa has more 20 years of experience working in health as a registered nurse, clinical manager, business development manager and program manager.
She holds a Bachelor of Nursing, Bachelor of Arts and project management qualifications, and is excited to work with HNC to support the delivery of the Greater Choices for at Home Palliative Care Measure, an initiative funded by the Australian Department of Health.
Contact details: [email protected]