All the pieces are in place for Orange to have a dedicated palliative care facility, all that’s need is NSW Minister for Health, Brad Hazzard to give the go-ahead.

On Tuesday morning Member for Orange and Chair of the Orange Palliative Working Group, Philip Donato MP, joined community stakeholders and fellow members of the Palliative Working Group to tour the space that has been made available by Ramsay Health in the Dudley Private Hospital for a dedicated four-bed palliative care facility.

“We are so close to seeing a dedicated palliative care facility actually being delivered to the Orange community, of whom more than half the adult population petitioned for last year,” said Mr. Donato.

Earlier this year Ramsay Health pitched their proposal for a public/private palliative care facility at the Dudley Private Hospital in Orange, following the work of the Palliative Working Group and community stakeholders.

Mr. Donato said their proposal for a four-bedroom specialist facility for the people of Orange and the surrounding district is ready to go, but just needs the support of the NSW Government support.

“We are now waiting for the Minister for Health, The Hon. Brad Hazzard MP, to give the go ahead for this arrangement, which has proven successful in other places such as Wagga’s Calvary Hospital,” he said.

“Mr. Hazzard gave an undertaking to the members of Orange Push for Palliative he would consider supporting the proposal and would respond soon.

“I have a meeting scheduled with Mr. Hazzard next month in Parliament, in which I will seek an undertaking from him to support this initiative which has significant stakeholder and community support.

Mr Donato thanks Dudley’s CEO Pru Buist, and her predecessor Grant Frecklington, for making their facility available to the community.