Late last year, North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network (NWMPHN) organised the Dying Well Community Panel Forum as part of the Greater Choice for At Home Palliative Care Measure funded by the Australian Commonwealth Government Department of Health. The aim of the Forum was to help us to understand the needs of our community with regards to end of life care.
We had 27 consumers and carers from a range of age and backgrounds take part in the community panel. Panel members were asked to consider ‘What does dying well look like and how can we (NWMPHN) help people achieve this?
Panel members valued the chance to have a say:
“I feel after the weekend I have accomplished something. I feel I have played a part in something bigger.”
“I feel like my voice has been heard but it has also been an opportunity to hear other people’s opinions.”
Panel members have since presented the recommendations to the Executive staff at NWMPHN. We will now use them to help us decide how we fund and support services to improve end of life care for the community in our region.
More information:
nwmphn.org.au/palliativecare
Dying well community panel report (.pdf, 632 KB)
