One clear voice for palliative care

Palliative Care Advisory Committee (PCAC)
MEDIA RELEASE

One clear voice for palliative care

A palliative care advisory group is likely to recommend to the Ministry of Health to set up a national umbrella organisation that brings together all the principal interests in palliative care across New Zealand, enabling them to “speak with one clear voice.

“We see Palliative Care New Zealand as committed to a future where everyone who needs it has access to good palliative care,” said advisory group chair Dr Kate Grundy, Consultant Physician in Palliative Medicine and Clinical Director of Palliative Care, Christchurch Hospital.

A group to provide national leadership was identified as a real need in the New Zealand Cancer Control Strategy Action Plan 2005-2010 and the Ministry has contracted the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners to provide services and support to the advisory group.

Dr Grundy said the group sees PCNZ in a role to
- Provide a forum and voice for users, providers and funders
- Provide national leadership and advocacy in palliative care
- Work in partnership to influence policy development
- Promote best practice in palliative care.

The Cancer Control Strategy identified several areas of concern on which PCNZ will be able to focus, including equity of access to timely palliative care for both urban and rural centres and palliative care provision for Maori and Pacific peoples.

“We plan a major consultation round, starting May -June, and are trying to cast the net as widely as we can,” Dr Grundy said.

The advisory group wants to hear from interested parties who wish to contribute to the discussion as they build the strategic and business cases required for the new organisation.

ENDS

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