DELIVERING palliative care in people’s homes rather than hospitals will be a priority for Health Minister Sussan Ley after the election.
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Ms Ley said she would bring this focus into a new round of discussions with the state governments.
“I see it as a second-best option if somebody ends up dying in hospital when they actually wanted to die in their own home,” she said.
“We can do this better and that's something I’m determined to pursue if I’m Health Minister in a few weeks’ time.”
Ms Ley said the federal government had put in place up to $52 million over three years to improve palliative care services.
Labor has pledged to invest $35 million over four years to roll out new models of palliative care that give people greater choice and control over their final days.
Palliative Care Australia president Patsy Yates joined Ms Ley in Albury on Wednesday to launch a new resource to help begin conversations about end-of-life wishes.
Dying to Talk Discussion Starter is a partnership with the Country Women’s Association.
