Palliative care patients and their families across south-western Sydney are set to benefit from enhanced palliative care facilities as part of the Minns Labor Government's 2025-26 Budget.
Delivering on a NSW Government commitment to World Class End of Life Care, the $3 million investment will see South Western Sydney Local Health District deliver a new acute palliative care ward at Campbelltown Hospital and increase the subacute palliative care capacity at Camden Hospital.
The acute palliative care ward at Campbelltown will support patients who may still be receiving treatment, but who require immediate symptom management. The subacute ward at Camden will focus on restorative care and long-term quality of life and wellbeing.
The investment will ensure improved access for palliative patients requiring ongoing medical care such as radiation therapy or dialysis.
The Campbelltown Hospital program will create a new tailored ward for palliative care patients with a new nurse call system and upgraded computer systems.
The Camden Hospital program will revamp the old maternity ward to create an expanded palliative care ward with renovated bathrooms designed specifically to support palliative care patients, a new nurse call system and patient experience enhancements, including access to an outdoor courtyard.
Planning and design for the enhanced services will be guided by community consultation with staff and patients to ensure the upgraded facilities are comfortable, practical and honour the heritage of the original Camden site.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health, Ryan Park:
"The additional palliative care beds across both Campbelltown and Camden hospitals will provide enhanced palliative care for a broad range of patients with complex symptoms, expanding the level of care that can be provided and ensuring more people have access to the right specialist care when it's most in need.
"This expansion will help ensure palliative care services in south-western Sydney are well placed to meet the growing needs of Camden, Campbelltown, Wingecarribee and Wollondilly communities now and into the future.
"We still have a lot of work to do, but this investment will offer more privacy, comfort, and dignity to support people in their final stages of life, help support their loved ones and help ensure they continue to receive the highest standard of care."
Quotes attributable to Member for Camden, Sally Quinnell:
"The palliative care unit at Camden Hospital helps people to live their lives as fully and as comfortably as possible when diagnosed with a terminal illness. This upgrade is much needed, and will ensure Camden residents can continue to live within the comfort of their own community and surrounded by family - without requiring loved ones to commute.
"We know that our area is one of the fastest growing catchments, and this new funding will support our hard-working healthcare workers to deliver world leading care.
"I am incredibly proud to be part of a government delivering this necessary upgrade to Camden Hospital - the first our local hospital has received in many years."
Quotes attributable to Member for Campbelltown, Greg Warren:
"Ensuring our communities have access to world leading health care is a priority for the NSW Government.
"The $3 million funding will provide contemporary palliative care services for the community of south-western Sydney and will deliver on a key government commitment to deliver World Class End of Life Care across NSW."
