The number of Australians dying each year is expected to double by 2050 as the population ages but the palliative care sector says access to services is a “postcode lottery” that must change.
Demand for palliative care services, particularly to help people die at home, has increased significantly during the pandemic – by more than 60 per cent in some areas.
In the article, PCA CEO Camilla Rowland says governments need adequate investment in palliative care now to sufficiently increase the workforce, hospital beds, and community services available to manage the surge in demand caused by the pandemic and Australia’s ageing population.
“We actually need to plan for greater investment into community-based palliative care, take the pressure off the hospital system, work more closely with other health specialties and actually share that palliative care delivery,” Ms Rowland said.
“It’s not just because of COVID – I think that’s really highlighted the problem that we have in that we’re getting this greater demand – it’s also that we’re expecting the number of people in Australia to die to double in the next 20 years.”