National Palliative Care Week

Ms LUETHEN (King) (15:15): I would like to acknowledge National Palliative Care Week. It is important to acknowledge the great work that palliative care doctors, nurses, workers and volunteers do, and I praise them for their dedication and commitment in supporting people who are living with life-limiting or terminal illness. Having access to the best healthcare services possible is critical. This is one of the important reasons why I advocated strongly on behalf of people living in King for much-needed reinvestment in our local hospitals.

I am so proud that our government is delivering on the promises to expand and improve health services at Lyell McEwin and Modbury Hospital and, indeed, across the state. While those on the other side use their time and resources to continue to push out dishonest messages into my electorate, creating fear of privatisation—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Ms LUETHEN: —our government is getting on with the job of restoring the local health services, which Labor downgraded. In addition, we will deliver better health services in King—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, members on my left!

Ms LUETHEN: —and in the northern suburbs because that is exactly what people told me was most important to them and because that is exactly what people living in the north of Adelaide deserve. The Marshall Liberal government recognises—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Members on my left!

Ms LUETHEN: —that palliative care services are critical in helping people to manage their pain and symptoms and live their life to the fullest. It takes a special doctor, nurse, worker or volunteer to choose to work in palliative care and it takes people with a very caring and compassionate nature. The Marshall Liberal government regards the prevention and relief from suffering through high-quality palliative care as the mark of a compassionate society.

We are committed to delivering the palliative care services plan that we took to the 2018 state election. Our palliative care services plan is designed to help people to manage pain and illness with the dignity and respect they deserve. This is exactly what people in King told me was missing under the Labor government and we have listened and are delivering back these services.

Palliative care options must increase access both within the Adelaide metropolitan area and throughout the state. To do this, the Marshall Liberal government is making substantial improvements in palliative care in a planned and systematic way, and in partnership with non-government organisations and the commonwealth government, with $16 million being invested from 2018 to 2021 to expand community outreach palliative care services from the current weekday service to provide a 24-hour service, seven days a week, to undertake a statewide assessment of palliative care needs and establish a statewide clinical network for palliative care, which will undertake the urgent task of codesigning and delivering the new palliative care services plan. The $96 million Modbury Hospital redevelopment will include a 20-bed palliative care unit—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Ms LUETHEN: —and is forecast to be completed in December 2021.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Leader!

Ms LUETHEN: In 2019-20, the Marshall Liberal government has provided funding to trial and develop innovative service models to—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Cheltenham!

Ms LUETHEN: —meet consumer and carer needs to remain comfortable in the community 24/7, to expand access for diverse populations in the community—

The Hon. S.C. Mullighan: Where do people register their cars in Modbury now?

The SPEAKER: Member for Lee!

Ms LUETHEN: —who have special needs in relation to palliative care and end-of-life care, to respond more substantially and comprehensively after hours to paediatric palliative care needs, as well as to enhance psychosocial care and expand telehealth services for greater flexibility and reach of care.

A new project agreement on comprehensive palliative care in aged care has been negotiated between the South Australian and commonwealth governments. Both parties will be making equal contributions over five years, from 2019-20 to 2023-24, to a total of $7.65 million in funding. I would also like to take this opportunity to commend the excellent work undertaken by Palliative Care SA as the peak body for palliative care services.

Finally, I acknowledge that the South Australian Statewide Palliative Care Clinical Network has been established under the Commission on Excellence and Innovation in Health, and Dr David Holden from the Northern Adelaide Local Health Network has been appointed as the clinical lead. Mr Speaker, thank you again for the opportunity to acknowledge the importance that our government places on better services in palliative care.