A recent report indicates that 62 percent of individuals in need of palliative care did not receive it, despite 80 percent of expected deaths in Australia requiring it.
Data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) reveals that many Australians with terminal illnesses are not receiving the necessary palliative care to ensure a dignified and pain-free end of life. The report, titled “Palliative care and health service use for people with life-limiting conditions,” is based on data from 2019/20.
Released during National Palliative Care Week, the report highlights the importance of palliative care for individuals with terminal diagnoses, while also emphasizing the widespread lack of access to essential symptom control and emotional support provided by palliative care.
The AIHW’s findings show that eight out of ten individuals who pass away in Australia each year require palliative care to manage a variety of illnesses such as cancer, kidney failure, liver failure, dementia, and heart disease—equating to nearly 2,000 people weekly or 110,000 annually.
However, of those in need, 62 percent do not receive the necessary care, leading to unnecessary suffering and distress for patients and added stress for their families.
The likelihood of receiving adequate care varies based on the type of illness, with individuals with dementia and heart disease being the least likely to receive palliative care compared to those with cancer. Additionally, individuals in major cities have better access to care than those in rural and remote areas, where only around 15 percent of individuals with life-limiting illnesses receive timely palliative care.
Barriers to Access
“We know that there are obstacles preventing various communities from accessing timely palliative care,” stated Camilla Rowland, the Chief Executive Officer of Palliative Care Australia (PCA). “This new data provides a more detailed insight into who is being overlooked.”
“It’s important to note that not all individuals with terminal diagnoses require specialized palliative care, but there is a need for improved access to and understanding of palliative care within primary health and aged care settings where non-specialist palliative care could be effectively delivered.”
While some of these findings may be distressing for professionals in the field, Ms. Rowland highlighted the positive impact of palliative care for those who do receive it, as indicated by the AIHW data.
The data demonstrates that the majority of palliative care patients experience improved pain and symptom management, as well as psychological and spiritual support following palliative care intervention. Furthermore, their families and caregivers report improved or stable well-being when the patient receives support.
Efforts to Enhance the System
“There is much to be learned and reflected upon in this new data, and we will work with our members and services across Australia to do so,” Ms. Rowland remarked. “Our collaboration with the Department of Health and Aged Care, as well as Ministers Mark Butler, Ged Kearney, and Anika Wells, is promising, and I am confident that necessary actions will stem from this to bolster ongoing health and aged care reforms.”
Additional data from the study includes:
- A 29 percent increase in palliative care-related hospitalizations between 2015/16 and 2021/22.
- Public hospitals spending $532.5 million on palliative care for admitted patients and $154.2 million for non-admitted patients in 2021/22.
- Over 1.3 million palliative care-related prescriptions were issued in 2022/23, with four out of five being for pain relief.
- Pain management improved or remained low for 71 percent of palliative care phases, a figure that has remained consistent between 2018 and 2022.
National Palliative Care Week serves as an annual initiative aimed at enhancing public understanding of palliative care and promoting end-of-life planning.
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