MEMBER for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall has today welcomed the launch of a new NSW Government website to support families across NSW who have a child living with a life-limiting illness.
“The NSW Government is committed to ensuring families are supported through the course of the illness and after the death a child,” Mr Marshall said. “No one who hasn’t experienced such a loss can even begin to appreciate how difficult such an experience must be for these families.
“The vision for paediatric palliative care in NSW is for every child to have access to high-quality, co-ordinated and culturally-appropriate care that meets their needs and the need of the family.”
The website is funded by the NSW Government’s Agency for Clinical Innovation and the NSW Paediatric Palliative Care Program, which brings together the state’s three specialist children’s hospitals – the Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick and John Hunter Children’s Hospital in Newcastle.
The website details paediatric palliative care services across NSW (including bereavement services), provides education tools for families and health professionals and strengthens partnerships between general practitioners, paediatricians, community nurses and hospitals.
The new website is one of a suite of NSW Government measures designed to support children and families. Other measures include:
- Paediatric palliative care ‘pop up’ teams – can be quickly established for the duration of the child’s illness and for the family in bereavement.
- Home support packages – practical support and respite for families as they care for their child at home.
- Tele-health services (including tablet devices) – allow families to speak with their specialists and receive advice without the need to travel.
- Specialised after-hours support – can further assist families, clinicians and carers.
“It is often difficult for families across our region to access a range of support services which are available in Sydney,” Mr Marshall said.
“This website will provide practical advice and great comfort to families who are managing a child’s illness at home.”