Govt again rejects Anam Cara’s plea for more support

A PALLIATIVE care facility’s request for additional funding support from the State Government has been knocked back for the fifth time.

In its budget submission to the Government this year, Anam Cara House Geelong requested a $3.5 million funding boost to allow the organisation to open four public beds and support its day programs, an ongoing request it says will ease pressure on the broader healthcare system.

The submission was accompanied by an open letter signalling the support of more than 50 of Geelong’s most respected business, philanthropic and community figures for the organisation, which was established almost 20 years ago.

Anam Cara board chair Diana Taylor expressed disappointment at the outcome, but reiterated calls for the State Government to provide the organisation with the “critical” funding and for the Premier to prioritise a visit to its facility.

“The health system is under significant pressure and our submission for funding to open those public beds will support the existing health services in terms of the pressure that they are under regarding the availability of acute beds, hospital admissions, emergency presentations and ambulance ramping,” she said.

“We can do so much more on behalf of the Government and on behalf of the community if we are provided with this funding.

“In this last Victorian budget, $9.3 million was allocated for healthcare in the state, but not a cent has been allocated to Anam Cara.”

She said funding services to allow people to have a dignified death was as important as funding for services supporting birth, with need for this type of care growing rapidly.

“We would strongly encourage and hope that the Victorian Government will see its way clear to be providing this funding, as the community has requested,” Ms Taylor said.

“We will continue to advocate and respectfully engage with the Victorian Government.

“We think it’s really important that the Premier is directly involved in Anam Cara and is able to see the good work of Anam Cara.

“We have received the support of our local Labor MPs and we need to continue our advocacy because the way in which our community is cared for and the way in which people are given the choice to die is one of the most critical decisions that any person is going to make in their own lives.”

But a Government spokesperson said the publicly-funded palliative care, respite and end of life services already in operation in the region “are meeting community demand” and pointed to funding previously allocated to the organisation.

“We provided Anam Cara House with more than $7 million in funding in recent years to support capital investment in their new facility, equipment grants and to help establish a day hospice program,” the spokesperson said.

“Anam Cara House has been encouraged to work closely with Barwon Health.”