Media Release 23 October 2024
Right to Life requests that the government recognise the financial crisis facing palliative care and hospices in New Zealand, by adopting the members bill of Tanya Unkovich as a government bill and treating it with urgency.
Right to Life applauds Tanya Unkovich for her compassion in drafting a brilliant and timely private members bill entitled: “Improving Access to Palliative Care Bill”, that recognises that every New Zealander, regardless of where they live, has an inalienable human right to access high quality specialist palliative care and appropriate support services. Palliative care should be available in our homes, hospices, retirement villages and in hospitals.
Palliative care is holistic and encompasses the whole person, their physical symptoms, their emotional , spiritual and social needs. The care extends to the patient’s loved ones and includes bereavement support for the family and friends.
Palliative care respects and cares for life, it upholds the Fifth Commandment, of God, “Thou shalt not kill”. It also upholds the sanctity of life ethic and the right to life endowed by the Creator on every human being, Palliative care intends neither to hasten or postpone death.
Tanya Unkovich is a valued member of the New Zealand First caucus. Right to Life commends the caucus of New Zealand First for supporting this historic bill being placed in the ballot.
This outstanding bill deserves the support of every Member of Parliament. It also deserves the support of every member of our community. The bill may be viewed at the following link:- https://www.parliament.nz/media/7817/access-to-end-of-life-palliative-care-bill.pdf
Our community should be aware that palliative care and the hospice movement in New Zealand is facing an ever increasing funding crisis. Currently the government provides funding of $92 million for New Zealand’s 32 hospices for the dying. A further $94 million is raised in the community to fund hospices; this is raised with donations, raffles, cake stalls and op shops. It is now time for the government to accept its responsibility to provide full funding.
The number of people needing palliative and specialist palliative care is estimated to increase by 61 per cent from 31 038 in 2021 to 49 977 in 2043. We are faced with a crisis, if the government does not urgently address this funding crisis with considerably more funding, we could witness a reduction of services or the shutdown of hospices.
Ken Orr,
Spokesperson,
Right to Life New Zealand Inc.