MORE Wimmera people will be able to access in-home palliative care services after new state government funding.
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Wimmera Health Care Group will receive $116,962 and East Grampians Health Service will receive $78,538 to expand its palliative care services.
Wimmera Health Care Group chief executive Catherine Morley welcomed the funding.
“We will use the money to enhance the palliative care services we already provide,” she said.
“It’s a lovely addition and it will help us expand our services to meet the needs of our communities.”
Ms Morley said the health care group worked with other health organisations in the region to share its palliative care services.
“We support other health services in the Wimmera Southern Mallee Health Alliance, including West Wimmera Health Care Service, Rural Northwest Health and Edenhope hospital,” she said.
“That support might be through us travelling to those places or connecting with them via telehealth, so this funding will benefit the whole region.”
Ms Morley said the funding would help with things like referrals and equipment.
She said it was great to see funding being targeted to areas of need in the community.
Member for Western Victoria Jaala Pulford said the funding would provide home-based palliative care for more people across regional Victoria.
“We know most people want to die at home, close to family and loved ones,” she said.
“This boost will give people from the Wimmera with a terminal illness more support to be cared for at home.
“Speaking from my own experience, end-of- life care services make a real difference helping people make the most of every moment as their life draws to an end.
“I’m very passionate about this issue and I’m immensely proud to be part of a government that is supporting quality and compassionate end-of- life and palliative care that relieves pain and suffering, giving more people the support they need to die in their place of choice.”
The state government is also investing $1.25 million to establish a 24-hour expert palliative care advice line, $3.9 million for additional palliative care physician or nurse practitioner positions in Regional Palliative Care Consultancy Services and $10 million in grants for end-of- life auxiliary support services.
