The package was announced by NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner in September and designed to provide support for people who wish to die at home.

Western Local Health District (WLHD) cancer and innovative services  director Ruth Jones said Orange was still waiting to finalise details of a contract it has drawn up with HammondCare to provide care workers for  families caring for someone with a terminal illness at home.

“We will pilot the scheme to see how it works and we will be doing that in Orange, Bathurst and Dubbo,” she said.

The closure of the medical ward several months ago caused an outcry in the community, and was labelled a cost-cutting exercise.

Ms Jones confirmed Orange’s palliative care nurses work in the community from 9am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday. Community nurses call on palliative care patients on weekends and out of core business hours.

On September 12 Ms Skinner announced the palliative care package for the state, saying 1545 packages of home support, which includes nursing care, would be provided during this financial year across the state.

Ms Jones said Orange hospital was managing Orange patients who needed palliative care in hospital and offering appropriate privacy, despite the palliative ward remaining closed.

“Our staff in the wards carefully manage this situation on a day-to-day basis,” she said. “While I can’t answer for other hospitals I know our staff work hard to make the palliative experience as comfortable as possible for patients and their families.”

Ms Jones said under the new contract with HammondCare community workers and not nurses would be employed for support services. A planned statewide all-hours telephone support service would also be a valuable tool for families, she said.