While Australia’s health system is well regarded, more needs to be done to address the gaps in palliative care service provision, particularly in rural and regional areas.

The Corowa Medical Centre is rising to meet this challenge by undertaking a local palliative care project. The centre is looking at how they can utilise innovative technology and models of care to improve care coordination and ensure that suypportive care needs are identified and met early in the care journey.

The Corowa Medical Centre is promising the fact that palliative care aims to improve quality of life for those living with a life limiting illness and is not just about the last days of life. 

There is also a general mispercveption that palliative care is only for people with cancer, but this is not the case, as those with chronic diseases also need supportive care.

As part of their project, the Corowa Medical Center is hosting a free community forum, to provide information on palliative care services that are available locally. 

The forum is also great opportunity for the community to ask questions from a number of speakers, including a local doctor and representatives from community nursing, specialist palliative care nursing, NSW Ambulance, Corowa Hospital and the Amaranth Foundation.

Corowa Medical Centre practice manager Kristen Mann said: “We hope that by providing information on what services are available locally, that the community will be encouraged to think about the plan ahead regarding their support needs.” 

Kristen said that they are also hoping to hear from the communtiy, as to what could be done better to improve how palliative care is delivered locally. 

Your chance to ask your local health care team will be at the Corowa RSL Club on Wednesday, March 6 from 6pm-8pm, with light supper also provided. RSVP: Corowa Medical Practice – (02) 6030 5500.