New palliative care team, $1 million a year for Wide Bay region

A new team along with $1m from the state government is set to enhance palliative care services in the Wide Bay region.

The team of nine new palliative care staff have started work across the Wide Bay Health and Hospital Service, with more staff to join them soon.

A new team and more than $1m a year is set to boost palliative care services in the Wide Bay region.

The team of nine new palliative care staff, funded by the state government, has started work across the Wide Bay Health and Hospital Service with more staff to join them soon.

The team is set to include specialist consultants, principal health officers, social workers, occupational therapists and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers and is a part of increased funding to expand end of life care services.

Two consultants and two principal health officers will consult in hospitals and conduct face-to-face clinics by offering new outpatient clinics to the health service.

These doctors will also support the continuation of the current telehealth palliative care services.

This is a step towards increasing access to locally based specialist palliative care services catering to the needs of local patients.

Two part-time social workers have been added to the team to assist in caring for patients with complex needs, while two part-time occupational therapists will also be recruited.

To ensure culturally sensitive care, two part-time Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander healthcare workers will join the team, aiming to increase the engagement of First Nations patients.

Additionally, a new nurse unit manager role will be introduced, allowing clinical nurses to focus more on patient care by reducing their administrative duties along with two new part-time registered nurses.

These initiatives mark a significant step forward in palliative care services, ensuring that patients receive the support they need and their cultural needs are recognised and addressed.

Health Minister Shannon Fentiman said the new team would go a long way in making sure people in the Wide Bay with life-limiting illnesses could live their life as comfortably as possible.

“I know that many Queenslanders have experienced first-hand the compassionate care and support our palliative care staff provide to patients and their families.

“Our investment will deliver a staffing boost, ensuring the growing Wide Bay community have better access to this specialist care close to home.”

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