Funding for Bunbury Hospice care approved

26/8/93

Health Minister Peter Foss has approved funding of $70,000 for the Bunbury Hospice Palliative Care Service in the 1994 calendar year.

The funds will be made available under the recently signed Medicare Agreement and will help the service care for the growing number of cancer patients in the Bunbury region.

"The number of patients using the palliative care service provided by the Bunbury Hospice has increased by about 30 per cent a year since it opened in 1987," Mr Foss said.

"Up to 120 people are expected to seek palliative care from the hospice next year, and the Health Department predicts that numbers will grow by 50 per cent between now and the year 2000.

"The money will be used to fund a co-ordinator, a nurse and secretarial and administrative support costs.

"The hospice does an excellent job of caring for people with cancer, and the commitment of the staff to caring for the terminally ill is part of the reason for the growing demand on its services.

"I am pleased to be able to announce funding to assist this worthy cause."

Media contact: Jeanne Klener 325 8655/222 9595