Dr Peter Allcroft, Chair of Palliative Care Australia (PCA), has raised concerns about what happens when someone outlives their package under the new Program.
The palliative care packages will provide $25,000 to those who have three months or less to live to help them stay at home for as long as possible from 1 July and can be spent over 16 weeks.
Information provided to The Weekly SOURCE by the Department of Health and Aged Care (DoHAC) showed those who live beyond the 16 weeks can use 'unspent funds' accumulated under the current Home Care Package regime, if they have any. Alternatively, they can request a high-priority Support Plan Review (after 12 weeks of accessing the End-of-Life Pathway) to move to an ongoing Support at Home package.
Individuals can only access one One-of-Life Pathway package.
In an interview on the ABC's Radio National, Peter raised concerns about those not able to access enough additional funding. He said, "The stress that will be placed upon the families will be really quite concerning. And the healthcare providers providing that professional care at home are also worried with potentially ethical and moral dilemmas. If there's no funding to care for the patients to pay their staff, will they have to withdraw their care?"
No cap on End-of-Life Pathway packages
With the waiting list for Home Care Packages at 81,000, Peter is also concerned about limits on the number of End-of-Life Pathway packages released.
The DOHAC revealed to The Weekly SOURCE there will be no cap on the number of End-of-Life Pathway places available.
In the ABC interview, Peter also said there is a lack of appropriately skilled staff to deliver end-of-life care, and said $25,000 may not be enough for some who require high levels of support. For example, people with Motor Neurone Disease sometimes require two registered nurses at a time.
"There's certainly concern that there may not be enough in that $25,000 to cover that last few months of life," he said.
