Labor MP, palliative care advocates speak out against funding cuts

A western Sydney Labor MP wants to double funding for palliative care despite his government slashing it by $150m – a cut that has left advocates distressed.

Prospect state Labor MP Hugh McDermott has opposed euthanasia and wants more funds for palliative care. Picture: Jane Dempster

Prospect state Labor MP Hugh McDermott wants to double funding for palliative care despite his government slashing it by $150m – a cut that has also left his fellow advocates distressed.

Premier Chris Minns made a shock decision this week that his government would cut funding for terminally ill patients and put an extra $97m towards voluntary assisted dying laws.

This comes more than a year after Mr Minns voted against the assisted dying bill when he was in opposition.

Mr Dermott also voted against assisted dying and has campaigned for palliative care resources alongside the Westmead Push for Palliative Care lobby group.

On Friday, he remained committed to bolstering funding for palliative care despite the setback from his own party.

MP Hugh McDermott.

“I want to see a significant increase in palliative care funding and will be pursuing that with the (health) minister and the Premier,’’ he said from Armenia where he is on a delegation.

“We need the Westmead and Nepean units established but I want to see a significant amount of money into palliative care for patients and families whose loved ones they’re looking after.’’

However, Mr McDermott – whose electorate takes in the Cumberland, Blacktown and Fairfield council areas – confirmed recent funding cuts would not adversely impact palliative care units promised for Westmead and Nepean hospitals.

In August, Labor confirmed its commitment to allocate $93m for the designated wards at Westmead and Penrith as part of a $743m allocation for end-of-life care services pledged for NSW by the Liberal government last year.

Westmead Push for Palliative Care advocate Caroline Raunjak felt “totally disappointed” over funding cuts.

“I can’t believe it,’’ she said.

“To me it’s really quite simple: One, they (the government) don’t have an understanding of palliative care. Two, more people will choose assisted dying over palliative care.’’

Westmead Push for Palliative Care leader Dr Philip Lee. Picture: John Appleyard

The group’s leader Philip Lee, who was the Westmead Hospital palliative care service director for 10 years before it closed in 2009, found the news “distressing”.

He said western Sydney would be left further behind other areas of Sydney, particularly the north shore, which had better palliative care resources.

A NSW Health spokesman said the $93m to redevelop and refurbish palliative care units in Sydney and regional areas remained unchanged.

She said the NSW budget included more than $1.7b over four years for palliative care. “Palliative care funding will be 6.8 per cent higher in 2023-24 compared to 2022-23,’’ she said.

”NSW Health is committed to providing palliative care to all those who require it. All local health districts provide palliative care. End of life and palliative care is provided in hospitals, specialist facilities, in people’s homes, residential aged care and other community settings.’’

In May last year, NSW became the last state in Australia to allow euthanasia for those suffering terminal illnesses. It will be implemented in November.