Mr SETTER - 1995-10-11
What progress has been made with augmenting palliative care services in the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I am very pleased to report that some progress has been made already in the implementation of the government's expanded palliative care services for Territorians. Recently, Mr Mark Donald was appointed as a temporary project manager and has commenced duty. Mark is a registered nurse who has extensive experience in palliative care interstate and in the Northern Territory. Community consultation and investigation as to the best options for service delivery have also commenced and negotiations are well under way with South Australian health authorities in relation to regular quarterly visits by specialists in radiology, oncology and palliative care. A bereavement and pain control workshop has been scheduled for Darwin and Alice Springs in November and after hours palliative care nursing hours are already in the process of being extended. That will provide considerable support to our community care system.
Already, 40 health staff have participated in a broadcast lecture from the Cottage Hospice in Perth. That lecture was over-subscribed doubly and we believe it will need to be run again. In the meantime, videos and notes relating to it have been circulated. The lecture covered pain management, symptom control and nursing issues in the care of the dying.
At the same time, we are pursuing recruitment to Alice Springs of a senior palliative care nurse/coordinator. The job descriptions for all key personnel are being finalised and I believe advertisements have been placed already to recruit staff nationally. This is a most exciting development for Territorians in the sense that it will provide a comprehensive and coordinated service, most of which will be delivered in the home where that is the desire and the most appropriate forum for people.
Ms Martin: Where is the commitment to provide a hospice?
Mr FINCH: In addition ...
Mr Ede: Yes. What happened to the hospice?
Ms Martin: Yes.
Mr FINCH: You have read the press release, but I will take the time to answer that too. On the basis of advice, the government has determined that 2 specific beds will be provided at Darwin Private Hospital and set aside for management by the palliative care team. It is a most appropriate environment.
Ms Martin: Cost effective?
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Mr FINCH: A hospice is totally unreasonable.
Ms Martin: On what basis?
Mr FINCH: None of the experts in the field advises it. You are the only one singing this song about a hospice because there is neither a demand nor a justification ...
Ms Martin: A future commitment?
Mr FINCH: ... for a stand-alone hospice. That will come in time. We said in the announcement ...
Ms Martin: Not in your outline paper.
Mr FINCH: A most comprehensive announcement about palliative care was made wherein we forecast that it would be at least 5 years before a stand-alone hospice would be required. It is a simple story. It is not complicated. I know that you want one in your backyard, for some reason, but it would be a most unsuitable site.
Ms Martin: We have an adequate community facility in my backyard.
Mr FINCH: The last place on earth that I would want to die is not necessarily in your electorate but in ...
Ms Martin: That is your own peculiar opinion.
Mr FINCH: Have you visited the old, dilapidated facilities there? I am not too sure that I would want my dog to go there to die.
As far as I am concerned, there is no justification for a hospice, let alone having that site set aside for 5 years until one is justified. It is simply nonsense. It is another of the screwball ideas that members opposite conceive. Why don't you do a little - I will use your words - rational, logical thinking? That is what you have to do.
Mr Ede: Like you in relation to methadone.
Mr FINCH: Exactly. That is exactly what I am talking about. Palliative care in the Northern Territory is marching ahead, thanks to the CLP government.
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I am very pleased to report that some progress has been made already in the implementation of the government's expanded palliative care services for Territorians. Recently, Mr Mark Donald was appointed as a temporary project manager and has commenced duty. Mark is a registered nurse who has extensive experience in palliative care interstate and in the Northern Territory. Community consultation and investigation as to the best options for service delivery have also commenced and negotiations are well under way with South Australian health authorities in relation to regular quarterly visits by specialists in radiology, oncology and palliative care. A bereavement and pain control workshop has been scheduled for Darwin and Alice Springs in November and after hours palliative care nursing hours are already in the process of being extended. That will provide considerable support to our community care system.
Already, 40 health staff have participated in a broadcast lecture from the Cottage Hospice in Perth. That lecture was over-subscribed doubly and we believe it will need to be run again. In the meantime, videos and notes relating to it have been circulated. The lecture covered pain management, symptom control and nursing issues in the care of the dying.
At the same time, we are pursuing recruitment to Alice Springs of a senior palliative care nurse/coordinator. The job descriptions for all key personnel are being finalised and I believe advertisements have been placed already to recruit staff nationally. This is a most exciting development for Territorians in the sense that it will provide a comprehensive and coordinated service, most of which will be delivered in the home where that is the desire and the most appropriate forum for people.
Ms Martin: Where is the commitment to provide a hospice?
Mr FINCH: In addition ...
Mr Ede: Yes. What happened to the hospice?
Ms Martin: Yes.
Mr FINCH: You have read the press release, but I will take the time to answer that too. On the basis of advice, the government has determined that 2 specific beds will be provided at Darwin Private Hospital and set aside for management by the palliative care team. It is a most appropriate environment.
Ms Martin: Cost effective?
Page 852
Mr FINCH: A hospice is totally unreasonable.
Ms Martin: On what basis?
Mr FINCH: None of the experts in the field advises it. You are the only one singing this song about a hospice because there is neither a demand nor a justification ...
Ms Martin: A future commitment?
Mr FINCH: ... for a stand-alone hospice. That will come in time. We said in the announcement ...
Ms Martin: Not in your outline paper.
Mr FINCH: A most comprehensive announcement about palliative care was made wherein we forecast that it would be at least 5 years before a stand-alone hospice would be required. It is a simple story. It is not complicated. I know that you want one in your backyard, for some reason, but it would be a most unsuitable site.
Ms Martin: We have an adequate community facility in my backyard.
Mr FINCH: The last place on earth that I would want to die is not necessarily in your electorate but in ...
Ms Martin: That is your own peculiar opinion.
Mr FINCH: Have you visited the old, dilapidated facilities there? I am not too sure that I would want my dog to go there to die.
As far as I am concerned, there is no justification for a hospice, let alone having that site set aside for 5 years until one is justified. It is simply nonsense. It is another of the screwball ideas that members opposite conceive. Why don't you do a little - I will use your words - rational, logical thinking? That is what you have to do.
Mr Ede: Like you in relation to methadone.
Mr FINCH: Exactly. That is exactly what I am talking about. Palliative care in the Northern Territory is marching ahead, thanks to the CLP government.
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016