❓ The Minister for Health outlines how increased palliative care funding will support those with terminal illnesses and addresses recommendations from the Joint Select Committee on End of Life Choices, highlighting a record $47.4 million spend in 2019-20.
AnsweredQoN 341Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HEALTH —
PALLIATIVE CARE EXPENDITURE
341. Ms A. SANDERSON to the Minister for Health:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's record funding for palliative care, including a significant
increase for services in the regions.
(1) Can the minister
outline to the house how this funding will provide support for those with
terminal or life-limiting illnesses and conditions?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house how it delivers on the recommendations of the report
of the Joint Select Committee on End of Life Choices?
PALLIATIVE CARE EXPENDITURE
341. Ms A. SANDERSON to the Minister for Health:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's record funding for palliative care, including a significant
increase for services in the regions.
(1) Can the minister
outline to the house how this funding will provide support for those with
terminal or life-limiting illnesses and conditions?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house how it delivers on the recommendations of the report
of the Joint Select Committee on End of Life Choices?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question
and of course thank her for her leadership as Chair of the Joint Select
Committee on End of Life Choices and the great work that she has done in this
space.
(1)–(2) I
can confirm that the McGowan government is providing additional support and
care to the sickest of Western Australians through an end-of-life choices and
palliative care services package. Improving palliative care services in WA was
a recommendation of the member for Morley's select committee to ensure
that support is available to those who need it most.
The new funding brings the McGowan
government spend on palliative care services in 2019–20 to a record
$47.4 million. The 2019–20 state budget includes a $41 million
investment in extra support and enhanced specialist and community-based care
across the state, initially with a package focused on rural and regional
palliative care services. This package brings the total investment by the state
government for palliative care services over the next four years to over $206 million.
An extra $5 million, as part of this package, is set aside for a purpose-built
38-bed residential aged and palliative care facility in Carnarvon. This funding
is in addition to the $11.6 million already allocated to build the new
facility. I have heard the concerns of the sector and we are moving as quickly
as possible to make sure that we work closely with the palliative care sector
in relation to their work. In addition to convening a regular CEO stakeholder
round table, we will be convening a palliative care summit to hear from health
professionals, consumers and stakeholders, and this will explore ideas to
improve and strengthen palliative care for everyone in Western Australia.
Details of the summit will be announced shortly.
Palliative care is an essential part
of end-of-life care. It allows the sickest and most vulnerable Western Australians
to be cared for comfortably with dignity during their final stages of life.
This $41 million package will ensure that
people with any life-limiting or terminal conditions will live their lives as fully, as comfortably and as close to
home as possible, and it is another sign of the way that the McGowan government is supporting the recommendations of the Joint Select Committee on
End of Life Choices.
and of course thank her for her leadership as Chair of the Joint Select
Committee on End of Life Choices and the great work that she has done in this
space.
(1)–(2) I
can confirm that the McGowan government is providing additional support and
care to the sickest of Western Australians through an end-of-life choices and
palliative care services package. Improving palliative care services in WA was
a recommendation of the member for Morley's select committee to ensure
that support is available to those who need it most.
The new funding brings the McGowan
government spend on palliative care services in 2019–20 to a record
$47.4 million. The 2019–20 state budget includes a $41 million
investment in extra support and enhanced specialist and community-based care
across the state, initially with a package focused on rural and regional
palliative care services. This package brings the total investment by the state
government for palliative care services over the next four years to over $206 million.
An extra $5 million, as part of this package, is set aside for a purpose-built
38-bed residential aged and palliative care facility in Carnarvon. This funding
is in addition to the $11.6 million already allocated to build the new
facility. I have heard the concerns of the sector and we are moving as quickly
as possible to make sure that we work closely with the palliative care sector
in relation to their work. In addition to convening a regular CEO stakeholder
round table, we will be convening a palliative care summit to hear from health
professionals, consumers and stakeholders, and this will explore ideas to
improve and strengthen palliative care for everyone in Western Australia.
Details of the summit will be announced shortly.
Palliative care is an essential part
of end-of-life care. It allows the sickest and most vulnerable Western Australians
to be cared for comfortably with dignity during their final stages of life.
This $41 million package will ensure that
people with any life-limiting or terminal conditions will live their lives as fully, as comfortably and as close to
home as possible, and it is another sign of the way that the McGowan government is supporting the recommendations of the Joint Select Committee on
End of Life Choices.
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