PALLIATIVE care needs in the Murrumbidgee have again been snubbed by NSW Health in favour of private-public partnerships.
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Teams of highly-skilled nurses won't find their way to Wagga under a recently announced $35 million enhancement of community-based palliative care, despite the health district having no hospice, public palliative care unit or specialist palliative care physician.
Riverina residents shouldn't feel short-changed by the situation, however, according to NSW Minister for Health Jillian Skinner.
With Wagga and the Murrumbidgee relying heavily on community-based palliative care as its only present option, the announcement has drawn criticism from the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association (NSWNMA) over the privatisation of services as well as the delivery of equitable levels of service between rural and metropolitan areas.
Under the new funding announcement, northern NSW and Sydney residents will receive access to clinical nurse consultants who are highly skilled nurses with post-graduate qualifications in speciality clinical areas.
It is likely regional palliative patients in the Murrumbidgee district will be treated by palliative care aids, a less qualified option.
The service will be provided by the HammondCare consortium.
“Communities across the Riverina should not feel short-changed by the palliative care package HammondCare is providing,” Ms Skinner said.
“HammondCare is delivering the very same package of palliative care to patients across metropolitan Sydney.
“In fact, the HammondCare package is being rolled out in the Murrumbidgee Local Health District.
“This is not a case of haves and have-nots – this is about ensuring the right mix of services, including clinical and community-based, are provided to support those who are dying.”
