Calls for Hospice Care funding

Friday June 02, 2023

THERE have been fresh calls to the State Government to support Mount Gambier/ Berrin's unique In Home Hospice Care program with funding expected to run dry towards the end of the year.

Earlier this week during State Parliament sitting, Member for Mount Gambier Troy Bell called on the government to support the initiative by allocating about $100,000 per annum to ensure its future security.

Mr Bell said there were positive elements to the program - which has been running for close to two years - including providing a service for people who are experiencing end of life care at home.

Mr Bell labelled In Home Hospice Care chairperson Maureen Klintberg as a "passionate advocate" and supporter of the program and detailed the funding issue it currently faced.

The service received $150,000 in State Government funding to kick-start the program in 2020 with the funding now coming to an end.

Ms Klintberg thanked Mr Bell for his ongoing support which also led Mr Bell to also supporting the research into developing a palliative care facility in Mount Gambier/Berrin in the future.

"Currently we are operating with the support of a grant from the Hospital Research Foundation which is based in Adelaide and that funding will take us through until December this year," Ms Klintberg said.

"Meanwhile we are applying for any community grants that we identify supporting community organisations such as ours.

"We are also conscious of the need to raise funds within the community." Recently In Home Hospice Care has received a number of community donations including a recent Charity Afternoon Tea fundraiser hosted by Lois Bayre which raised more than $10,600 to help fund the ongoing service.

"We have had an increase of donor contributions just as t he last couple of weeks from community groups such as t he Lion and Lioness group, senior citizens, Twisted Threads but we have also received donations from individual community members," Ms Klintberg said.

"The value of our service to support clients with life limiting illnesses and also providing support and respite to their carers has increased in recognition within the community and we know the contributions to date indicate the community value this service and there is a need for this service." She said since its inception the program had also received inquiries from Millicent and Penola which show a need for the service.

"We need the State Government to acknowledge the importance and value of our service within a regional community and the fact there are no other palliative care volunteers within our region," she said.

Ms Klintberg said there was currently a focus on increasing the number of outreach volunteers to support in home based palliative end of life care.

"As we have known for some years now, statistics reveal around 70 per cent of people would prefer to die at home which means there needs to be increased planning and funding to support that care within the home," she said.

Minister for Health Chris Picton recently announced an increase into palliative care nurses with a 0.5 nurse allocated to the Limestone Coast.

Ms Klintberg said despite being well received, this would not meet the need for output nor the increase in outreached services with the emphasis now on care within the home.

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