Corowa Medical Centre and Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network are jointly investigating the status of services at Corowa.

Corowa Medical Centre practice manager Kristen Mann said there was a misconception that palliative care was only about end of life care or for people with cancer.

“Through the project we also want to promote that palliative care also aims to improve quality of life for those dealing with a life-limiting illness,” she said.

"Palliative care is about helping people live life longer and pain-free."

A free forum on palliative care services at Corowa and surrounds will run on Wednesday at the Corowa RSL Club.

Initiated by Corowa Medical Centre, the forum will include a doctor and representatives from community nursing, specialist palliative care nursing, NSW Ambulance, Corowa Hospital and the Amaranth Foundation.

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Ms Mann said early identification was vital to developing a plan for a person’s ongoing palliative care requirements.

“While Australia’s health system is well regarded, more needs to be done to address the gaps in palliative care service provision, particularly in rural and regional areas, and the forum will give people the opportunity to ask questions of the speakers,” Ms Mann said.

“We want to encourage people to think about their support needs and plan ahead, and we also want people to tell us what can be done to better improve how palliative care is delivered locally."

Ms Mann said the palliative care forum was the first of its kind in the town.

"We hope to see carers who were looking after someone who is palliative or who have looked after someone who was palliative, health care professionals or anyone in the community who wants to know about access to palliative care," she said.

To book for the free forum, which runs 6pm to 8pm and includes supper, phone (02) 6030 5500.

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