THE Cancer Council has jumped on board the campaign for better palliative care.
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With World Cancer Day on February 4, the Cancer Council took the opportunity to raise awareness of the lack of palliative care resources in NSW.
As an ongoing issue for many regional and rural areas of NSW, Southern Highlanders have welcomed the Cancer Council's stance on the issue.
Last week an inaugural meeting of Push for Palliative was held in Bowral.
Dr Yvonne McMaster, the brain behind the campaign said having the Cancer Council on board would certainly help raise more awareness of this issue in the community and put pressure on the state and federal governments.
While Dr McMaster said the Southern Highlands had better palliative care facilities than elsewhere in the state, there was plenty of room for improvement.
Highlands philanthropist Andrew Delahunt has purchased land in Bowral for the purpose of building a hospice.
While the development application is still in council, palliative care is a subject close to his heart and Mr Delahunt welcomed the work of the Cancer Council in bringing the issue to public attention.
"At the moment the Cancer Council are correct. There are not many palliative care beds in the Southern Highlands," he said.
He said the planned ERF Hospice Foundation will have 10 beds available at its Bowral site.
"My personal preference (would) be to see an outreach program supported by various hospices. An outreach program could be started immediately as it doesn't require a building."
This issue holds a great interest to Mr Delahunt whose mother set up an outreach program in the 1960s and 1970s.
"I could always remember her leaving us to tend to a dying patient and ringing to say put the dinner on, I am waiting for the ambulance."
Visit www.cancercouncil.com.au/get-involved/campaign-with-us for more information on the Cancer Council's campaign for better palliative care.