Registered nurses working in aged care should be trained and qualified in palliative care, according to a peak body.
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As an aged care reform bill progresses through Federal Parliament requiring registered nurses to be on duty 24/7 in nursing homes, Palliative Care Australia has presented a budget submission to the Federal Government seeking compulsory training for RN staff.
"People are always surprised to learn that palliative care is not an embedded practice in aged care," said PCA chief executive Camilla Rowland.
"Currently, over one third of all deaths in Australia occur in residential aged care, and it's a real post code lottery as to whether those people receive palliative care.
Recommendation 80 from the aged care royal commission pointed to the need for compulsory palliative care training for aged care workers.
PCA has detailed a three stage roll out of palliative care training to the aged care workforce, designed to complement other upskilling initiatives flagged by the Royal Commission.
People are always surprised to learn that palliative care is not an embedded practice in aged care.
- Camilla Rowland chief executive Palliative Care Australia
Ms Rowland said demand for palliative care was expected to increase by 50 per cent between now and 2035 and double by 2050.
Long term picture
"Death is an important part of life, the need we see is there every day, but looking at the longer-term picture, let's starting making ground on that need now and provide that end-of-life care we all want," she said.
The budget submission also includes the need to fund and develop a National Palliative Care Workforce Strategy, to ensure we have the people and skills needed for the future, not just in aged care but in all care settings from community health to paediatrics to hospitals."
PCA's budget submission includes:
- Palliative care training for RNs in residential aged care - $36 million over four years
- National Palliative Care Workforce Strategy - $2.5 million over two years years
- Palliative care sector peak body funding - $400,000 per year
"We understand there is enormous pressure on the Commonwealth Budget, but we have shown that greater investment in palliative care services reduces costs in the wider health system through reduced hospitalisations and a better allocation of resources," Ms Rowland said.
Full details can be viewed on the PCA website.