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Question and Answer Tracking Details

1283 - Health - VOLUNTARY ASSISTED DYING AND PALLIATIVE CARE

Tudehope, Damien to the Minister for Finance, and Minister for Natural Resources representing the Minister for Health, Minister for Regional Health, and Minister for the Illawarra and the South Coast
VOLUNTARY ASSISTED DYING AND PALLIATIVE CARE

(1) Can the Minister please advise, what are the details of the proposed capital expenditure on Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) for each financial year from 2023-24 and 2026-27 inclusive, totalling of $2.789 million, including $2.619 million as set out in Budget Paper No. 3.

(2) Please advise details of expenditure on VAD in financial year 2022-23?

(3) Please provide details of proposed expenditure on VAD, by year for the financial years from 2023-24 to 2026-27?

(a) Please include:

(i) VAD Pharmacy Service?

(ii) VAD Care Navigators?

(iii) VAD Review Board?

(iv) VAD Training?

(v) provision of VAD in public hospitals?

(vi) any other VAD matters?

(4) Can the Minister advise, when it is anticipated that the members of the VAD Review Board will be appointed?

(a) When will they commence work?

(5) Noting that in Budget Paper No. 2 for the 2022-23 Budget, the following provision for end of life and palliative care was made:

"$30.7 million recurrent expenses and $2.0 million capital expenditure ($650.4 million recurrent and $93.0 million capital over five years) to enhance end of life and palliative care services for people across New South Wales through: – enhancing pain and other symptom management options – increasing capacity and ensuring equitable access to supportive and palliative care in NSW hospitals – enhancing outpatient and community health services providing end of life and palliative care – supporting consumer choice and excellence in end of life and palliative care, including an increase in First Nations palliative care staff, and the provision of education and training through scholarships and clinical placements"

(a) Can the Minister advise:

(i) how much was expended on enhancing end of life and palliative care services in 2022-23?

(ii) please provide a breakdown of the expenditure by project?

(b) Does the 2023-24 Budget include any provision for whatever remains to be spent of the  $650.4 million recurrent and the $93.0 million capital committed in the 2022-23 Budget on enhancing end of life and palliative care services?

(i) If so, please provide details?

(ii) If not, where have these funds been reallocated?

(6) Have or will any of these funds been expended on planning for or providing Voluntary Assisted Dying services?
Answer -

I'm advised:

The NSW Government delivers safe, high-quality, and compassionate health care to the people of NSW.

The 2023-24 Budget includes more than $1.7 billion over four years to 2026-27 for palliative care. Palliative care funding will be 6.8% higher in 2023-24 compared to 2022- 23 with budget forecasts indicating funding will increase again by 8% in 2024-25.

The 2023-24 NSW Budget also includes a $93 million capital investment, to redevelop and refurbish NSW Health facilities, including new dedicated palliative care units at Westmead, Nepean, Orange, Wyong, and Tamworth hospitals.

The 2023-24 Budget includes separate funding of $97.4 million over four years ($94.6 million recurrent expenses and $2.8 million capital expenditure) to enable safe and equitable access to voluntary assisted dying for eligible people in New South Wales.

Publicly available information about capital works expenditure to support safe and equitable access to Voluntary Assisted Dying services is contained in Budget paper No.3.

NSW Voluntary Assisted Dying Board member appointments take effect on commencement of the Act (28 November 2023).

Question asked on 28 September 2023 (session 58-1) and published in Questions & Answers Paper No. 102
Answer received on 20 October 2023 and published in Questions & Answers Paper No. 118

The Parliament of New South Wales acknowledges and respects the traditional lands of all Aboriginal people, and pays respects to all Elders past and present. We acknowledge the Gadigal people as the traditional custodians of the land on which the Parliament of New South Wales stands.