ON Wednesday night Orange’s Push for Palliative committee will reveal details of plans for a major forum to be held in the city in late May.
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It is designed to move forward the process to bring more palliative care services to the city.
Push for Palliative publicity officer Bernard Fitzsimon told the Central Western Daily the meeting is open to any member of the public who would like to become involved or find out more about the campaign.
“As a group we are open to all options for palliative care, and we are very conscious of the fact the community has already been extremely generous in supporting additional health care services for Orange including CareWest Lodge,” Mr Fitzsimon said.
“That is why we are looking to the state government for adequate funding and resourcing for palliative care.
“We see a palliative care facility, whatever the model, to be as critical as cancer services such as radiotherapy or an ambulatory unit for example.”
Mr Fitzsimon said the constitution of the group will be ‘locked in’ tonight after months of preparation.
Retired palliative care specialist Dr Yvonne McMaster has visited Orange on several occasions to support the establishment of Push for Palliative.
Dr McMaster told the Central Western Daily that the May palliative care forum will be an opportunity to hear input from 52 Push for Palliative ambassadors from across the state.
“It will be important that they can share their experiences at the forum,” Dr McMaster said.
“I am most encouraged to learn that Palliative Care NSW is now looking into what they describe as something of a groundswell in the state of communities interested in having a hospice in their area.”
The Orange Push for Palliative community meeting starts tonight at 6pm in the ground floor function room of Kelly’s Rugby Hotel.
janice.harris@fairfaxmedia.com.au