Nioka Palliative Care Unit

Mr PETER DRAPER (Tamworth) [6.20 p.m.]: With Palliative Care Week commencing on Sunday 25 May 2008, I want to highlight the good work, but also the frustration, of a very dedicated organisation that works extremely hard to ensure that people in and around Tamworth have the best possible palliative care facilities. Nioka Palliative Care Unit is located in the grounds of the Tamworth Hospital. The 82 Friends of Nioka make up this facility's wonderful support group. They provide funding and manpower to ensure that Nioka remains a special and peaceful place and a place where patients and their families can share important time with dignity.

A quick glance at the May newsletter of the Friends of Nioka shows activities such as afternoon tea and a concert on 27 April, a sausage sizzle with a fashion parade in May and other events throughout Palliative Care Week. Every month the Friends of Nioka hold many events to raise funds for their ongoing projects. The group has widespread community support. Its last newsletter details a $1,500 donation from the Calala Inn Fishing Club, plus $10,000 from the South Tamworth Lions Club, and the group regularly receives bequests. All the funds it raises are used to further its objectives. Over the past five financial years to the end of June 2007, the Friends of Nioka have accumulated $157,394. Friends of Nioka president, Greg Carr, told me:

A lot of income is from people who are thankful and have had the experience of palliative care within Nioka with family and friends.

Donations and fundraising have continued, and this financial year includes a very substantial bequest. The Friends of Nioka have a long-term plan to increase the amenity of the facility. In cooperation with health authorities, they have expanded the bed capacity from four to six in stage one of Nioka improvements. With stage one completed, they want to provide a seventh bedroom in stage two, using a bequest and funds they have raised. The Friends of Nioka recently received a bequest of $200,000, which is now held in trust, to provide a palliative care ward bedroom in memory of the late Susan Ann Haylock. They would like to move quickly to fulfil Mrs Haylock's wishes. They have raised a further $180,000 towards the project, which indicates very strong community support for this project.

However, they face a dilemma. In 2002 an agreement was reached between the former executive officer of Tamworth Hospital to increase the number of beds in Nioka from four to seven. The Friends of Nioka have completed stage one by adding two more beds, using money they had raised and with the very generous support of a local building firm. This expansion has been achieved in close cooperation with Tamworth Hospital staff. Subsequently, a decision has been reached to redevelop Tamworth Hospital, and a consultant has been appointed to commence the process. At this time, the Friends of Nioka are unsure about the facility's future. They require certainty if they are to use the funds to proceed with the completion of stage two. In a letter dated March 2007, former health Minister John Hatzistergos told the Friends of Nioka:

The Clinical Services Plan is expected to be finalised and in draft form for submission to NSW Health by 30 June 2007. Following the completion of the plan, a more in-depth response can be provided to the queries raised by Friends of Nioka about requirements for an increase in bed numbers and physical expansion of the Nioka Unit.

Fast-forward to May 2008, and the Friends of Nioka are still unclear as to what the future holds. To the best of my knowledge, the group's representatives have had only two short meetings with the consultant, and since then have seen only an abridged copy of the Hunter New England Area Health Service draft Tamworth Health Service Plan. The Friends of Nioka are concerned that the draft plan's comments on palliative care do not reflect any of their views, as expressed to the consultant. When referring to palliative care, the report states:

In the year 2005 there were 98 separations, 1244 bed days at an occupancy rate of 85%.

Yet the health service's own model suggests that in 2011 and 2016 it would require only four beds with a 75 per cent occupancy rate. Considering our ageing population and the fact that there was an 85 per cent bed occupancy in 2005 with only four beds, these figures appear to be contradictory. The confusion about future directions must not be allowed to discourage organisations such as Friends of Nioka from achieving their goals. Their work stands to save the Government and health authorities tens of thousands of dollars.

As I said earlier, I consider Nioka to be a special place. To maintain this atmosphere, the Friends of Nioka wish to retain and further develop the separate, peaceful style of accommodation, which already has had much money invested in it. A great deal of support has flowed to Nioka and palliative care services in the New England area. The Friends of Nioka will see that this continues, knowing that the community values and supports this service. We must maintain a separate facility that is peaceful and away from acute care, not only for those in their final stage of life but also for their carers, families and friends. The need for palliative care is increasing. Nioka has outstanding staff and dedicated volunteers. The Government must give them security about their future.