The Turnbull Government is funding a pilot program so people nearing the end of their lives receive better care and treatment at home.
The $8.3 million program will trial new ways to provide palliative care services, delivering the right care at the right time, while also aiming to reduce hospitalisations.
The Greater Choice for At Home Palliative Care program will be rolled out in ten locations around Australia, enabling people living with a life limiting illness to receive care and treatment services in their home.
This could include services from a local GP, palliative, hospital and specialist care support, and community and social services – all coordinated to ensure the patient is supported.
People will receive the right care at home, tailored to their own need, which will hopefully mean less trips to the hospital to access these services.
Australians who are coming to the end of their life deserve to have the best care possible.
The program will be administered through Primary Health Networks across Australia, and will be coordinated with local and state services, as well as aged care providers.
The ten Primary Health Networks which have been selected to take part in the trial include:
• Brisbane South;
• Central QLD, Wide Bay and Sunshine Coast;
• Gold Coast;
• South Western Sydney;
• Murrumbidgee;
• Western NSW;
• North Western Melbourne;
• Eastern Melbourne;
• Adelaide, and
• Country WA.
These locations represent a broad population reach, covering urban to remote areas.
The outcomes of this pilot will provide information which will ultimately improve palliative care services in the future.
I want to thank Palliative Care Australia for their advocacy and advice on delivering better services to patients and their families.
The Turnbull Government is committed to increasing both access to palliative care services, and the quality of palliative care on offer.
In last year’s Budget we provided almost $80 million for palliative care activities across three years from 2017-18.
The trial runs until June 2020 and interested people and their families, in the trial areas, should contact their GP to discuss joining the program.
(ENDS)