Give us a voice: Push for Palliative calls for place on panel to decide services

The head of Orange’s Push for Palliative Care group has called for a community member to be included on the panel which will decide which of the expressions of interest to provide the service in Orange is approved.

The eight-week period for expressions conducted by the Western NSW Local Health District closed this week.

Orange Push for Palliative Care chair Jenny Hazelton it was important a member of the public was involved.

“We have been in touch with the LHD because we are very keen for there to be a community member on the assessment panel,” she said.

The tender process was quite long. We have just got to keep the pressure on.

Orange Push for Palliative Care chair Jenny Hazelton

“We have been fighting for a long time with specific requirements.”

Mrs Hazelton hoped the decision making would happen “as soon as possible”.

“The tender process was quite long. We have just got to keep the pressure on,” she said.

“It’s for all the people in the community. [Palliative care] is not just for old people, there are young and old people [in need].”

 ACTION STATIONS: Push for Palliative Care workers Jenny Hazelton, John McDonogh and Tracy Wilkinson. Photo: JUDE KEOGH

The Push for Palliative group has backed a public-private proposal from Dudley Private Hospital that would see four fully-equipped and staffed beds at the hospital for public patients.

However, Mrs Hazelton said the group would consider all offers to provide palliative care in Orange.

“We have to be open to any expression of interest from anyone. It has to be a transparent process,” she said.

Mrs Hazelton said it was also hoped the LHD’s palliative care plan would become long-term.

“It’s only for 12 months but we want it to be the start of something bigger,” she said.

HAVING A SAY: Dudley Private Hospital CEO Paul McKenna.

Dudley Private Hospital CEO Paul McKenna told the Central Western Daily the hospital would be putting in a detailed submission to use its facilities to provide palliative care in Orange.

WNSWLHD executive director of allied health and innovation Richard Cheney announced the process at Orange hospital in July.

He said a panel of experts would be set up to assess the expressions and work with the successful tenderer to possibly start the scheme by the end of the year or early 2019.

Mr Cheney said the Orange hospital would continue to provide palliative care once the new service was operating.

“We have, unfortunately, quite a significant demand and a growing demand [for palliative care],” he said.

Orange Health Service general manager Catherine Nowlan said palliative care was important for the community and was not only provided in hospital.

“We know that 75 per cent of people would like, where they can, to die at home,” she said.

The Western NSW LHD was contacted for comment this week.

WNSWLHD chief executive Scott McLachlan said in July the service would be outside of the Orange hospital.

“[It] will offer a more home-like environment for inpatient palliative end-of-life care,” he said.