Better Equipment to Assist Terminally Ill Patients
Minister for Ageing, Justine Elliot, announced that 187 palliative care services will share in $2.6 million in funding to help them upgrade their equipment.
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10 December 2009
Syringe drivers are essential equipment in hospitals, residential aged care, palliative care services and community settings for pain management in palliative care. The devices deliver measured doses of medications via syringe at a constant, controlled rate.
Minister Elliot said: “The Rudd Government is committed to promoting nationally consistent standards and high quality care through the National Palliative Care Program.”
“This equipment replacement program is assisting specialist palliative care services replace out-of-date equipment with equipment that meets the national standard.”
The Therapeutic Goods Administration ruled that certain syringe drivers were no longer compliant with best practice standards and that their use was to be phased out by 2012.
“The Rudd Government will provide funding to 187 palliative care services to assist them upgrade their equipment so that they can continue to provide high quality palliative care services,” Minister Elliot said.
The equipment replacement program is being managed by Palliative Care Australia (PCA), the peak body for palliative care services, and will replace 887 syringe drivers in 187 services.
Further information is available on www.palliativecare.org.au
Services will be able to choose the brand or model that best suits their needs.
Palliative care is the specialised care of someone who has an advanced terminal illness. Each year more than 20,000 Australians receive specialist palliative care and more than 500,000 patients, carers, family members and friends are affected.
For more information, contact Mrs Elliot's office on (02) 6277 7280
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