However there is significant work still to be done in providing strong options for palliative and end of life care for our community.

Whilst being impressed by the figures offered by Mr McLachlan that 60 percent of participants in the Palliative Care Home Support Service died at home, it is important to note that this service is run by Hammond Care and represents a proportionately small number of people across the LHD (Western Local Health District).

Hammond Care delivers an end-of-life palliative care service by community care workers aimed at supporting eligible participants at home for up to 48 hours. 

It is widely recognised across  Australia that less than 20 percent of people die at home even when as many as 80 percent express a wish to die at home.

So whilst this service is doing good work it does not address many of the palliative care issues about which our community is concerned.

It is estimated that 40 percent of people will die in acute care hospitals (NSW Health reports).

Mr McLachlan says that for the people admitted to Orange Health Service for palliative care, there are services provided to meet their needs.

He gave details of direct admission to wards, access to over 40 single private rooms, and the provision of a pull-out bed for a family member.

Orange Push for Palliative receives regular feedback from community members that these provisions are not working well. The pressure on the single rooms is enormous.

Families report that despite the staff's best efforts single rooms are not always available and their loved one has been moved a number of times and has even been nursed in a four-bed ward. 

In the single rooms there is not sufficient space for families to gather and have important time with their loved one.  All this occurs in the midst of the hustle and bustle of an extremely busy acute care ward and hospital. 

There needs to be a dedicated space and area within the hospital where the pace is slower, quieter and private. Sadly this space was available at the old hospital. 

The NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard has announced significant funding for Palliative Care and our local member Phil Donato is strongly supportive. 

The minister stated that the allocation of this additional funding is up to the LHD (Local Health District). So we urge Mr McLachlan to address these issues.

The community is very proud of Orange Health Service’s Level 5 status in trauma and many other areas.

But has this been achieved at the expense of providing appropriate hospital space for those people in our community who need to be in hospital at the end of their life?

Many of the smaller district hospitals have more appropriate palliative care facilities that our Health Service.

The 10,221 people who signed the petition to improve Palliative Care services in Orange can't be wrong.