NSW Parliamentary Inquiry on remote, regional & rural health

On Tuesday 28th May, 2024 Orange Push for Palliative was invited to attend this inquiry to give evidence regarding palliative & end of life care in rural & regional areas. The evidence we gave related to the historic, and recent, inequalities between the metropolitan and rural areas in NSW. Even within the rural areas there are vast differences in services and allocations of funding.

We said that the additional three beds at Orange Hospital was playing ‘catchup’ to other services , and that finally there was robust data which resoundingly confirmed the immediate need for 5-6 end of life beds at Orange Hospital.

We said that with the change of State government in 2023 we had noticed positive changes in the receptiveness of the Government to our local needs. With the support of our local member Mr Phil Donato we have had unprecedented access to the Premier and the Health Minister Ryan Park. They are willing to talk with us.

We also emphasized the gaps in palliative and end of life care for First Nations peoples. They are not accessing traditional services at the hospital for historic and cultural reasons and there is a great need there to improve care for them. We talked about a joint grant submission OP4P, OAMS (Orange Aboriginal Medical Service) and Livebetter have submitted to improve services in many areas particularly supporting end of life care doula training.

Janice & Jenny at the Parliamentary Inquiry 28/5/2024

Official Inquiry photograph