Urgent Action Needed
- Today, 62 Victorians will die without access to specialist palliative care, highlighting a critical gap in support for those with life-limiting illnesses.
- As the population continues to grow and age, the demand for palliative care services is expected to increase by 50% between now and 2035, and to double by 2050.
- Investment in palliative care will reduce the burden on the Victorian health system, with less emergency department visits and shorter hospital stays, improving quality of life for Victorians with a life limiting condition.
PCV's Calls to Action for the next Victorian Government
PCV’s State Election Campaign ‘Tomorrow’s Care Starts Today!’ reflects extensive consultation across Victoria. The message is clear: services are stretched, demand is rising, resources are falling behind and our loved ones are dying without the support they need.
Victoria’s population is ageing rapidly, and living longer with complex, chronic life limiting conditions. PCV calls for leadership and investment in sustainable solutions - to build a system that ensures every Victorian receives the care they deserve
PCVs Call to Actions are:
Year One: Fund and embed a culture of palliative care across Victoria.
Today, 62 Victorians will die without access to specialist palliative care and supports to die well, highlighting a critical gap in support for those with life-limiting illnesses. There is a lack of consistent understanding, capability, and visibility of palliative care across the broader health system.
- Funding and implementing a state-wide palliative care framework, including education for health professionals and funding for community engagement targeting underserved populations will start to address this gap. Palliative Care needs to be everybody’s business.
Year Two: Improve Transitions of Care and Launch a Statewide Awareness Campaign.
Victorians who need palliative care are too often lost in a fragmented system of practice, inconsistent referral pathways, and unclear eligibility criteria.
- By improving statewide integration of referral and transition pathways, across the whole of health and the community of Victoria; and by increasing Victorians awareness of palliative care, we can ensure that equitable access to care is available for all.
Year Three: Evaluate and measure progress to drive accountability and improvement.
Consistent, transparent data regarding access, outcomes, or service quality in palliative care is not easily available. Without measurement, progress cannot be demonstrated or improved.
- Establishing a Palliative Care Outcomes and Evaluation Framework to collect and analyse data on service quality and access, will drive accountability and improvement in care delivery.
PCV stands ready to lead in partnership, and we call on the next Victorian Government to invest in people, planning and partnerships to strengthen palliative and end-of-life care.
For further information or enquiries, please contact Palliative Care Victoria.
[email protected]
03 9662 9644 (Chris Wishart/Ed Hawke)
About us:
Palliative Care Victoria is the peak body for palliative care and end of life care. Our vision is to ensure that all people with a life limiting illness and their families are supported to live, die and grieve well.
Contact details:
For further information or enquiries, please contact Palliative Care Victoria.
[email protected]
03 9662 9644 (Chris Wishart/Ed Hawke)
