Health staff in the Upper Hunter will be eligible for training in palliative care following the State government’s budget announcement that $100 million will be invested in the Upper Hunter region and across NSW.
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The announcement follows a series of nine palliative care roundtables held across NSW in recent weeks, during which health care workers, service providers, family members of people who had experienced palliative care and health administrators had discussed ways to improve the delivery of end-of-life care.
Member for Upper Hunter Michael Johnsen said the funding will significantly improve palliative care services and resources.
“This budget measure means that our health staff can upskill their training in palliative care, as well as paying for additional specialist nurses and doctors to be recruited.
“We want the community to have confidence and choice in their end-of-life care and this step is a huge help towards that outcome.
“We know that the need is to expand our palliative care resources and choices at a local level,” Mr Johnsen said.
The 2017/2018 NSW Budget will include palliative care training for 300 nurses and allied health staff, 300 scholarships for rural and regional staff to upgrade their palliative care skills, an additional eight palliative care specialists for rural and regional areas and an additional 30 palliative care nurses providing care in hospitals, homes and nursing homes.
“We are asking nurses and other allied health staff to apply for scholarships and for training.
This is a win for the professional development of our local healthcare workers and for our communities,” Mr Johnsen said.