North West Palliative Care

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation Tasmanian Branch (ANMF) will today raise the profile and risk facing the Community Palliative Care in Aged Care service that has been delivering palliative care to residents in aged care since 2018.

ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary Emily Shepherd said the program has been running since 2018, jointly funded by the State and Federal Governments.

“However, the recent Federal Budget saw for this vital service to support our communities most vulnerable has been cut,” Ms Shepherd said.

“The ANMF has sought assurances from the Minister for Health Bridget Archer that the State will pick up the funding shortfall for a service that has provided palliative care to over 1300 residents in just the last 12 months.

“This has not yet been received.

“Irrespective of whether this is State or Federal jurisdiction – we’d like to know how our moral compass has got so broken that our communities most vulnerable, who have paid taxes and contributed to society for their entire lives can’t even access a comfortable and supported death.”

Ms Shepherd said the ANMF has also written to Aged Care Assistant Minister Rebecca White asking for the funding to be reinstated by the Federal Government.

“The loss of this service will mean residents in aged care will miss out on palliative care and will likely end up in our States Emergency Departments as the existing palliative service will not have the capacity to pick up this workload.

“Our members have told us that every region will struggle to meet the demand for elderly Tasmanians seeking palliative care if CPCiAC services are removed.

“In the North alone, there are still 230 live cases which ultimately won’t be able to be supported after June 30 June if funding is ceased.”

Ms Shepherd said the ANMF is calling on the Tasmanian Health Minister to intervene as ceasing this service will mean poorer outcomes for elderly Tasmanian’s at the end of their life, more emergency department admissions and an overstretched palliative care device with unreasonable and unmitigated workloads.

“Our community’s most vulnerable people should at the very least, have access to quality palliative care and the opportunity to experience comfort, dignity and peace at the end of life.”

“Both the State and Federal Governments need to get their priorities right – it’s not a case of whether they can afford, just whether they choose to.”

-End-

Media contact:
Emily Shepherd, ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary
Mobile: 0400 884 021
Email: Emily.Shepherd@anmftas.org.au