Tassie palliative funding stops
Funding has run out for Tasmania’s palliative care peak body.
Palliative Care Tasmania, the state's training body for care associated with patients with advancing or incurable diseases, is set to close after its Federal funding ran out.
PCT has been training organisations, community groups and families in how to care for the dying for over 20 years.
It received $2.6 million in federal funding in 2012 to ramp up its operations.
It used the money to connect with 250 organisations and community groups across the state, including aged care facilities, men's sheds, Probus clubs and the Country Women's Association.
PCT’s funding ended in September, according to general manager Colleen Johnstone, and has not been renewed.
The Launceston and Hobart offices are now slated to close, leaving no-one to provide the services.
“Without Palliative Care Tasmania, there's nobody left in Tasmania to fill that gap. It's causing a lot of concern,” Ms Johnstone said.
“We've had a number of calls and have unfortunately had to turn people away who were still desperate to get access to the type of information that we can provide.”
The Federal Health Department says the funding for PCT was just a one-off assistance package.
A parliamentary inquiry into palliative care in Tasmania is underway, while the Tasmanian Government says it is working to find a future for PCT.