Hospice North Shore patient Patricia Weiss talks to Minister of Health, Hon Dr Jonathan Coleman
Hospice North Shore welcomed Health Minister, Hon Dr Jonathan Coleman to the hub of its service in Takapuna on Thursday 30 March 2017, as he launched the Ministry’s Adult Palliative Care Services in New Zealand – Review and Action Plan.
“Palliative care is a priority for the Government,” says Dr Coleman. “We’re committed to ensuring New Zealanders can access palliative care services when they need them and in the settings they prefer.”
“At a time of growing demand and increasingly scarce resources, it is reassuring to know that the Government recognises the crucial importance of palliative care,” commented Nicolette Bodewes, Chair of the North Shore Hospice Trust board.
Dr Coleman cited recent statistics that predict a 51% growth in demand for palliative care services; from 24,680 people in 2016 to more than 37,000 in 2038.
The population within the Waitemata District Health Board area is predicted to grow by a third in the 20 years from 2015[i], so the increase in need for Hospice services here will be correspondingly high.
Hospices are represented on the Palliative Care Advisory Panel, which had input into the Review and Action Plan. The review focuses on improving services over the next three to five years, while taking into account the expected demand for those services over the next 10 to 20 years.
The review proposes five priority areas. This includes improving the variety and quality of services and adopting a more patient-centred model of care.
“A major focus will be responding to feedback from people receiving palliative care and their families,” says Dr Coleman. “One of the first actions will be developing a framework for collecting patients and their families’ experiences of adult palliative care to understand what is working well and identify opportunities for improvement.”
“Working closely with our colleagues in primary, secondary and residential care is essential to ensure seamless and quality care; not only for the patient, but for those he or she loves; wherever a person lives and dies,” explains Ms Bodewes.
The Review of Adult Palliative Care and the Palliative Care Action Plan are available on the Ministry of Health website, www.health.govt.nz
Hon Dr Jonathan Coleman launched the Review and Action Plan for Adult Palliative Care Services in New Zealand.
Click on the image to watch Dr Coleman's speech.
[i] WDHB Health Needs Assessment 2015
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