With Palliative Care week just around the corner, the statewide I Care for Palliative Care campaign is gaining momentum.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The online petition has reached more than 11,000 signatures, roundtable discussions for the region will reach Tamworth on May 22, and Inverell businesses are being urged to throw their public support for the campaign.
The Cancer Council has also closed its call-in request for people to share their experiences with advanced or terminal illness, and is collating the stories and statistics.
The campaign started in earnest in mid-2016 after representatives of the CanAct advocacy group across NSW identified it as one of the biggest cancer-related issues.
The petition to NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard asks for funding for at least 10 more specialist palliative doctors; 129 more palliative care nurses, and culturally appropriate palliative care for Aboriginal people.
Cancer Council northern region community engagement co-ordinator Paul Hobson said he urged Inverell businesses sign up to endorse the campaign.
“All sectors of the community are affected in some sense, and a personal plea can sometimes be seen as being minimal, but when organisations as a whole get behind such a campaign, it seems to broaden the importance and scope of the campaign,” he said.
“They have a fair bit of persuasion in the community, and if people notice their local solicitor or a local organisation is behind something, it makes them feel like it’s a community-wide issue.
“The weight they can carry can sometimes be that little bit more persuasive.”
Mr Hobson said there wasn’t a specific goal for increased staff numbers in Inverell.
“It’s not just about the staff currently there, it’s about the scope of the work they’re able to do,” he said.
“Inverell is a community that has basically a 9-to-5 operation, and when palliative care incidences occur outside those hours, they don’t have the budget to accommodate that.
“If someone was to face a palliative crisis or a pain relief issue in the evening, they might not be able to get the help they need, which is quite daunting …
“That’s not a reflection on the current staff, just a reflection on the system the way it is.”