Calls for palliative care beds in Joondalup
28 October 2019
Local MPs Emily Hamilton and Sabine Winton tabled petitions in Parliament last week calling for additional palliative care beds to be located at the Joondalup Health Campus.
Over a thousand signatures were collected and presented to the House and the Minister for Health, Roger Cook.
The Joondalup Health Campus is a good hospital that services a significant number of residents in the northern corridor but it does not have a specialised palliative care unit.
Currently, for public palliative care services, patients need to attend Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital.
In recent months debate has been underway in Parliament on Voluntary Assisted Dying. A number of reports have informed discussion on this very important matter. In particular, Recommendation 7 of the Report of the Joint Select Committee on End of Life Choices, states:
The Minister for Health should facilitate the establishment of an inpatient specialist palliative care hospice providing publicly funded beds in the northern suburbs of Perth.
A $41 million investment in an end-of-life choices and palliative care services package for Western Australians was announced by the McGowan Government in May, as part of the 2019/20 budget. The investment will provide extra support and enhanced community-based palliative care services across the State.
Earlier this month, an additional $17.8 million was invested to enhance palliative care services, which includes $9 million towards 10 inpatient palliative care beds in northern metropolitan suburbs.
Local MPs Ms Hamilton and Ms Winton are continuing their campaign calling for the 10 inpatient beds to be located at the Joondalup Health Campus and have launched an online petition. If you want to sign the petitions, visit the Facebook pages Emily Hamilton MLA or Sabine Winton MLA.
Comments attributed to Emily Hamilton, Member for Joondalup:
“We need to continue to invest in key health infrastructure in Joondalup to ensure that patients can receive the care they need close to home.
“We need a palliative care unit to be located at the Joondalup Health Campus so that patients facing their end of life can receive the palliative care services they need, in Joondalup.”
Comments attributed to Sabine Winton, Member for Wanneroo:
“We need to support families in the Northern Suburbs, particularly during times when they are most vulnerable. Eliminating travel time in those precious last moments with a loved ones can have a hugely positive affect on families”
“It is vitally important that we have high-quality palliative care services in the northern suburbs allowing our community to access these services closer to their home, family, and friends. I am very pleased to be working with Emily Hamilton MLA, Member for Joondalup to be pushing for these upgrades at the Joondalup Health Campus.”
Media contact: Emily Hamilton 9300 3990
Photo (sent as a separate attachment) left to right: Ms Emily Hamilton MLA, Member for Joondalup, Health Minister Roger Cook and Ms Sabine Winton MLA, Member for Wanneroo