Strategy for End-of-Life Care launched

Minister for Health Cameron Dick this morning launched Queensland’s Statewide Strategy for End-of-Life Care which will ensure people and their families confronting a terminal illness receive the high standard of care they deserve.

Mr Dick simultaneously launched the Queensland Clinical Senate’s Charter for care of adult patients at the end of life which aims to further educate health professionals on how to recognise the care needs of terminally ill patients.

The Queensland Clinical Senate represents clinicians across the health system and provides expert advice on the delivery of quality, affordable and efficient patient care within Queensland.

Mr Dick said two documents would provide platforms for people nearing the end of their life, their families, carers and healthcare workers to talk about a patient’s wishes.

‘‘The Statewide Strategy for End-of-Life Care is about helping people live as well as they can until the end of their life,’’ he said.

‘‘The strategy aims to support Queenslanders to think about their wishes and discuss them with their family and general practitioner.’’

Mr Dick said local healthcare providers will have the freedom to drive local implementation of the strategy.  

‘‘Each community in Queensland has its own needs and challenges which is why we’re asking local healthcare providers to work together to ensure the best possible care is available to those at the end of their life,” he said.

Mr Dick said the Clinical Senate’s Charter for care of adult patients at the end of life would work hand-in-hand with the strategy.

‘‘The charter is one of four recommendations to emerge from a Queensland Clinical Senate (QCS) and Health Consumers Queensland partnership,’’ he said.

‘‘The charter enable healthcare workers, patients and their families and carers to openly discuss the person’s wishes and improve care at the end of life.’’

‘‘The heart of both of these documents is to inform the public about the choices they can make so they are more in control, more prepared and more able to find a greater level of peace at the end of their life.’’

If you’d like to know more about care at the end of life and advance care planning speak to your general practitioner or treating specialist.

For more information on the Statewide Strategy for End-of-Life Care go to https://publications.qld.gov.au/dataset/health-strategies

For a copy of the Charter for care of adult patients at the end of life go to http://www.health.qld.gov.au/publications/clinical-practice/engagement/qcs-patient-charter.pdf

ENDS 

MEDIA CONTACT:          Andrew Fraser      0428 690 679