Woy Woy to become home to palliative care facility, Labor says
Federal and State Labor have promised to build and run a palliative care facility at Woy Woy if it wins the next election. Community campaigners want other parties to match the funding.
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Federal Labor will fund a $20 million Palliative Care Unit at Woy Woy Hospital if it wins the next election.
The funding promise was made this morning at Woy Woy, and would involve State Labor funding the staff and providing the site for the facility.
The unit would house a dedicated multidisciplinary specialist palliative care team to meet patients’ end-of-life preferences and needs.
Construction would start in 2020.
Federal Labor says it would commit to funding even if the Liberals were returned to power in NSW.
Local campaigner for construction of a palliative care facility on the coast, Oana McBride, welcomed the funding announcement and urged other political parties to match it.
“This is absolutely amazing,” Ms McBride said.
“It’s recognition that this is something the community really needs,” she said.
“Even today I got another 1200 signatures on our petition which is now around 10,000 in total.
“This is bigger than politics so we want the other parties to match it for sure.
“They continue to announce palliative care facilities in Sydney but on the Central Coast there is not even one.”
Federal Labor candidate for Robertson Anne Charlton said the Central Coast was one of the biggest regions in Australia that does not currently have a stand alone palliative care facility.
“That means many locals who require palliative care have to travel to either Newcastle or Sydney — adding to the pain and suffering patients and their families endure at these most difficult times,” Ms Carlton said.
“We believe you should get the same access to quality services whether you live in downtown Sydney or a regional area.”
Dobell Federal Labor MP Emma McBride and Gosford State Labor MP Liesl Tesch also attended the announcement.
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