The Cootamundra community now has more options for end of life care, thanks to a new palliative
care room at Adina Care. The room has been funded by Adina Care and the Cootamundra Rotary
Club, with equipment donated by Shannon’s Bridge, a charitable organisation which supports families
and patients living with a life limiting illness.
Member for Cootamundra Stephanie Cooke joined representatives from Adina Care, Cootamundra
Rotary, Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network (MPHN), volunteers and local health care
professionals recently, to open the room which has been a passion project for the Cootamundra
community for the past six years.
MPHN At Home Palliative Care Project Manager Stacey Heer said the palliative care room gives
people the option of spending their final days outside of a hospital setting. “The palliative care room at Adina Care will be an important asset for the Cootamundra community, giving local people the option of spending their final days in a supported space that feels like home,”Ms Heer said.
The room is supported by trained staff and can be made available at short notice to anybody over the
age of 21. The project is the result of a partnership between Adina Care, Cootamundra Rotary and the
Cootamundra Medical Centre, a participating general practice in the At Home Palliative Care Project
with the Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network.
The medical centre project activities have been led by Dr Jacques Scholtz, who is a passionate
advocate for excellence in end of life care for the Cootamundra community.
“I have greatly valued the collaboration with local services, MPHN and community groups to make the
vision for greater choice for palliative patients a reality. The palliative care room will ensure patients
receive the right care, at the right place, at the right time,’ Dr Scholtz said.
Contributed by Stacey Heer, Project Manager – At Home Palliative Care, PHN Murrumbidgee