Continued calls for palliative care beds in northern suburbs
17 March 2020
• Joondalup MLA continues call for additional palliative care beds to be located in Joondalup.
• Joondalup Health Campus set for $161 million upgrade and expansion to ensure it continues to meet the needs of the growing northern corridor.
Last week in Parliament, local Member for Joondalup, Emily Hamilton raised a grievance with the Minister for Health on behalf of a local Joondalup family.
While door knocking in the community some time ago, Ms Hamilton spoke with Terry and Ann, local residents in City North Joondalup.
Terry and Ann shared that as Ann had been diagnosed with terminal cancer, healthcare in the northern suburbs and close to home had become very important for their difficult journey ahead.
After an 18-month fight, in February the decision was made for Ann to have access to palliative care and she was admitted to Joondalup Health Campus.
Under already stressful circumstances, Terry was notified by the hospital that they were unable to provide the next stages of medical needs for Ann’s palliative care.
Ann was transferred to Kalamunda Hospice which was less than ideal particularly due to the distance Terry needed to travel to see Ann.
Having raised concerns, Ann was transferred back to Joondalup where she passed away a short time later.
Ms Hamilton raised this matter in the Parliament with the Minister for Health, Roger Cook, to put a human face on the need for residents in Joondalup to have access to local healthcare services, including end of life care.
Over the past six months Ms Hamilton and her parliamentary colleague Sabine Winton MLA, Member for Wanneroo, have been circulating a petition. If you would like to sign the petition online, please visit http://bit.ly/2020palliativecarebeds
Comments attributed to Emily Hamilton:
“My deepest sympathies to Terry and his family on the loss of Ann.
“I will continue to call for the additional palliative care beds that will come on line in the northern suburbs to be located at the Joondalup Health Campus.
“We need to continue to invest in palliative care and the way it is accessed. There should be more choice for patients and their families, as a hospital setting may not be a choice everyone would make.
Media contact: Emily Hamilton 9300 3990
Photograph: Sabine Winton, Member for Wanneroo and Emily Hamilton, Member for Joondalup have been calling for additional palliative care beds to be located at the Joondalup Health Campus.