National statistics on “Palliative Care in Australia 2017” by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare were released this morning. The Report confirms increasing demand for palliative care services and provides statistical overviews on a range of issues relating to the provision of care to people approaching and reaching the end of their lives in Australia.
The ACI’s Palliative and End of Life Care Blueprint for improvement emphasises an integrated approach to care whereby relationships between specialist palliative care and care providers across all settings of care are fostered. It aims to develop a sustainable, networked approach to care that draws on the expertise of the specialist palliative care workforce to build capability of primary care providers (including General Practice, Aged Care Facilities). Growing need will require an ongoing partnership approach that continues to build competence and confidence in the health system more widely.