Fairer funding for Katie Rose Cottage and other Queensland hospices
Sandy continues to advocate for improved funding models for hospices including to ensure Katie Rose Cottage Hospice (KR) has all the resources it needs from state government.
In 2023, following our advocacy and requests from KR for additional funding, the former Minister for Health confirmed that the Health Department would undertake a review process for funding and contractual arrangements with non-government providers of palliative care services.
In 2024, Sandy and others used the budget process to further efforts for funding, and in response the state government provided an additional $4.1 million to eight palliative care organisations to ensure they can continue providing vitally important services to our vulnerable. This included KR, Cittamani Hospice Service on the Sunshine Coast and Little Haven Cooloola Palliative Care in Gympie. Sandy said in her 2024/25 Budget reply speech, that these increases are appreciated, however more is needed.
As the review mentioned earlier should be completed or near completion and with a new government after the 2024 October State Election, Sandy wrote to the new Minister for Health requesting an update and an equitable funding scheme for non-government hospices, such as KR. We are currently awaiting a response and will post once received.
Hospices for youth and young adults
With residents enquiring on what services are available for adolescents & young adults in need of hospices, we followed up with the minister’s office. The following in italics was provided in response:
Your correspondence highlights important considerations about age-appropriate care environments. Please be assured the provision of quality care for young people with life-limiting illnesses is a top priority for Queensland Health.
I am advised that the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service has a Specialist Palliative Care Service, which includes an inpatient Palliative Care Unit (Dove), that can admit patients from 16 years of age. The Specialist Palliative Care Service also provides support in the community to people with life-limiting illnesses who have specialised palliative care needs, either in their own home or private residential care facility, such as those operated by Blue Care.
In addition, there are also Queensland Government partially funded facilities, such as Queensland’s children’s hospice Hummingbird House, located in Chermside, which provides specialised support for patients and families up to 21 years of age; and Katie Rose Hospice, located in Doonan, that accepts patients from 18 years of age for specialist end of life care.
With expected population growth and increased demand for palliative care services, collaborating with private facilities may be a model of care that is considered in the future.
We would appreciate any feedback from Noosa electorate residents on the above information via noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au to inform our future advocacy.
Further information
Our previous Noosa 360 updates regarding KR are available at www.sandybolton.com/?s=katie+rose.
Direct advocacy to the state government regarding hospices can be emailed to the Minister for Health via health@ministerial.qld.gov.au. Please copy our office in via noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au and forward any response you receive.