ORANGE’S Push for Palliative community group had a strong presence in the city yesterday, asking people to sign petitions for more resources and staffing for palliative care services in Orange.
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Councillor Glenn Taylor, who raised concerns about gaps in the provision of palliative care in Orange last yearm welcomed the announcement more palliative care nurses had been appointed to Orange Health Service.
“That’s wonderful news, but I have no doubt community concerns have impacted on the response from health services,” he said.
“That’s why we are out in Orange today, to encourage people to be part of the continuing push for improved services.
Cr Taylor believes the concept of a palliative care hostel in Orange has merit.
“But that is at least 10 years down the track and it is going to cost a lot of money and take a huge amount of community effort,” he said.
“What we need to do is keep the pressure on health services now that proper care is a priority.”
Cr Taylor said appropriate palliative care in a hospital environment where relatives and patients had privacy and access was essential, as well as having enough nurses to care for people in their homes.
“We also need to make sure people in nursing homes have adequate access to appropriate palliative care 24 hours a day so they can be comfortable and free of pain,” he said.
Helen Redgrave was among those who signed the petition yesterday in the Orange City Centre.
“It is an important issue and we all need to support it,” she said.
Push for Palliative volunteers gathered signatures on petitions at Orange City Centre, Orange Central and the Summer Centre.
They will be at the same locations today between 10am and 2pm.
janice.harris@fairfaxmedia.com.au
