The Andrews Labor Government is giving hardworking palliative care services a boost so that local patients can be cared for as they near the end of their lives.

Minister for Health Jenny Mikakos today announced the Labor Government is investing $9 million towards palliative care infrastructure and innovation grants to improve access to palliative care.

The grants will support our palliative services in the critical role they play, helping patients and their families get excellent palliative care, whether at home, in hospital or in other settings.

This includes supporting providers across the state to expand and bolster their services with initiatives such as a new acute palliative care model in the home, implementing telehealth, a fast-tracked hospital-to-home model of care, or establishing a specialist palliative care clinic.

$3.4 million is going towards infrastructure projects such as building works or equipment upgrades. The Government is also investing $5.7 million to back hospital and community-based palliative care services to develop new and innovative models of care.

Palliative care is crucial in ensuring patients nearing the end of their lives receive the best possible care within their local community.

That’s why the Labor Government has boosted hospital and community-based palliative care with $72 million in the Victorian Budget 2019/20.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Jenny Mikakos

“Our palliative care doctors, nurses and services play a pivotal role in making sure patients at the end of their lives are cared for in the manner they deserve.”

“We’re helping palliative care services with this important work by giving them the support they need to grow and to offer patients the very best care.”