The I Care for Palliative Care is pushing NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner to meet the needs of multiple NSW communities. 

“It is saddening to think that many people in NSW are unable to access specialist palliative care and support because there just aren’t enough staff to support them,” Cancer Council spokesperson Sally Hudson said. 

“We know that the current palliative care doctors and nurses do a wonderful job, but they are stretched to meet demands across the state.”

Ms Hudson said communications about the closure of Bourke Street Health Service had occurred between the Southern NSW Local Health District and Cancer Council NSW. 

“We will continue to work closely to ensure the Local Health District keeps to their commitment that no services will be removed from the local community,” she said. 

Cancer Council has also claimed the State had failed to strike an acceptable balance between the number of palliative care nurses in accordance to the population. 

Led by hundreds of community members across NSW, she said this issue was more pronounced in regional and rural communities. 

“The NSW Government must take action now to close the gap in current palliative care services and prepare for the increased demand for these services as more people across the State are affected by chronic illnesses,” she said. 

“There are not enough palliative care doctors and nurses to meet the needs of the NSW community.”

The Cancer Council started the campaign for greater funding for specialist palliative care in 2015, but will ‘re-double efforts’ due to the shortage this year.

Cancer Council NSW has invited Goulburn residents to an information night on January 18 at Workspace 2580 which will run from 6 – 7.15pm.

The session aims to collect 1,000 signatures on behalf of the Goulburn community to add to the overall Palliative Care campaign