27 May 2015

$460,000 more to support West Coast palliative care service

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says an extra $460,000 is being pumped into West Coast’s palliative care service over the next four years.

“Palliative care services, including hospices make a huge difference to people's lives by ensuring terminally ill people are as free from pain and suffering as possible. They also provide valuable care and support for families and friends,” says Dr Coleman.

“As New Zealand’s population grows and ages, the demand for palliative care continues to increase.

“That’s why in Budget 2015 we allocated $52 million over four years to help hospices around the country expand their community palliative care services.”

West Coast DHB will receive around an extra $115,000 a year for four years for its palliative care service. The new funding takes effect from 1 July 2015.

“The extra funding means the team at West Coast DHB will be able to better support terminally ill people at home and in aged-care facilities,” says Dr Coleman.

“This funding boost is part of the Government’s commitment to delivering high quality services closer to home.”

In 2013, more than 15,000 people received care and support from hospice services throughout New Zealand, and hospice staff made over 145,000 home visits. Just over 20 per cent of people using hospice services were aged under 60 and three-quarters had a cancer-related disease.

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