Maitland residents are being urged to join a statewide push to improve palliative care in NSW as patients continue to live and die without adequate services.
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Instigated by retired Sydney palliative care specialist Dr Yvonne McMaster, the campaign calls for the state government to significantly increase its allocation of funding for palliative care. In Maitland, Adrian Bell has taken up the mantle of promoting a petition asking the Legislative Assembly of NSW to provide sufficient palliative care services to meet the existing and anticipated future demands.
“I truly believe in this cause,” Mr Bell, of Gillieston Heights, said. “ I wouldn’t do this if I didn’t and we need to bring this issue to as many people as possible,”
“There will also be more need for palliative care in Maitland, as we are both an ageing and growing population, and I don’t think we’ll be able to cope.”
Dr McMaster launched a similar campaign calling for the return of funds to palliative care services in northern Sydney last year.
As a result 24,000 signatures were collected and the state government responded by restoring the funds and promising to improve services throughout NSW.
“There are so many people who are currently living and dying without adequate palliative care, but sadly palliative care continues to struggle for funding while the number of people needing help grows every year,” Dr McMaster said.
“And although there are wonderful and committed professionals in most places, they are stretched to the limit. There are too few specialist palliative care doctors, nurses and allied health. There are also too few community nurses.
“We have to persuade the state government to commit more funds for the care of people with life-limiting illnesses like cancer, motor neurone disease, heart and kidney failure.”
Dr McMaster will hand over the petitions on October 24.
“This will demonstrate to the government that this need is statewide,” she said.
“Any help given by collecting signatures will be such a help to those living and dying without adequate palliative care.”
* The palliative care funding and services petition can be downloaded by contacting Dr Yvonne McMaster at pallcare2012@gmail.com
* A copy of the petition can also be signed at The Maitland Mercury, 6/555 High Street.
