Personalised, private care when patients need it most - National Palliative Care Week
Duration: 1:42
This National Palliative Care Week, Medibank is proud to be offering patients with a life limiting illness access to care and support in their own home if they would like it.
There are few families in Australia that haven’t had some experience with end-of-life or palliative care. Given 3.7 million Australians have health insurance with Medibank, we are focused on ensuring healthcare is accessible even in difficult circumstances.
As part of this commitment, Medibank at Home began a palliative care at home trial in Western Australia in 2016 and has expanded it to northern Sydney. Medibank at Home’s palliative care trial allows our customers to spend more time with their family and friends in the privacy of their home.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Linda Swan said research showed when given the choice, approximately 70% of Australians want to die in their homes, yet only about 14% do.
“This is why Medibank is funding our Palliative Care at Home service - to try and make this difficult time more comfortable for our customers,” Dr Swan said.
“This care is delivered by a skilled multidisciplinary team which includes doctors, nurses, social workers, counsellors, pastoral care workers and trained volunteers to make sure our customers, their family and carers’ physical, emotional and social needs are being met.”
Dr Swan said there is an opportunity this National Palliative Care Week (19-25 May) to reverse the current trend towards in-hospital end-of life deaths.
“To improve the end stage of life we must advocate for patients to have a choice in where they die whenever possible, and to enable flexible care arrangements. While this is only in trial at the moment, we’re hoping that early encouraging results will lead to a national roll-out, providing more Medibank customers with the choice to receive care where they most want it,” Dr Swan said.
Medibank at Home has supported and provided care for more than 4,000 customers to have treatment at home, in consultation with their doctor, for rehabilitation, chemotherapy, dialysis, infusions and palliative care.
Medibank is proud to support Palliative Care Victoria's Moments That Matter campaign this National Palliative Care Week. Video courtesy of Palliative Care Victoria.
