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MEDIA RELEA |
Care When It’s Most Needed
A range of initiatives to
improve palliative care access and information for rural Australians with
terminal illness will greatly assist those patients and their families at a
tumultuous time in their lives, the Rural Doctors Association of
“When
someone in a rural area is diagnosed with a life-limiting illness such as
terminal cancer, the impact on them and their families is devastating” RDAA
President, Dr
“Apart
from the emotional impact, there are a whole range of issues that patients and
their families must deal with, such as the level of care required and whether
that care can be provided locally. Of particular importance is palliative care,
as rural patients with terminal illnesses invariably want to be at home or
close to home, and near family and friends.
“Rural
doctors and other healthcare professionals play a crucial role not only in
providing quality palliative care to these patients, but also in providing
information, counselling and emotional support to patients and their families
during these times of crisis.
“RDAA
has lobbied strongly for better supports for these clinicians and is delighted
with the announcement of two new initiatives that will improve local access to
quality multidisciplinary palliative care for rural communities.
“The
first is the new information campaign launched by the Australian Divisions of
General Practice (ADGP) today to raise awareness of local palliative care
services in eight rural regions across
“This
campaign is part of an Australian Government-funded Rural Palliative Care
Program, which began in 2003 and is assisting the Divisions of General Practice
in the eight rural regions to improve access to multidisciplinary palliative
care services.
“RDAA also welcomes Australian Government funding for a new Clinical
Diploma in Palliative Medicine, to be offered through the
“This Diploma
will be of great value to many rural doctors, given the central role they have
in providing quality palliative care services in their local communities, in
the absence of the specialised hospices and palliative care units available in
the city.
“This Diploma is
a formal qualification involving six months dedicated training and assessment
within a specialty palliative care unit, and is one that RDAA promoted in the
run-up to last year’s Federal election. We welcome the Australian Government’s
decision to fund it.”
RDAA President, Dr
Media contact: Patrick Daley on tel: (02) 6273 9303 bh or
0408 004 890.