National Palliative Care Week (NPCW) is an annual awareness week held in Australia to promote better understanding of palliative care and to raise awareness of the needs of people with life-limiting illnesses and their families. NPCW is an initiative of Palliative Care Australia (PCA), the peak national body for palliative care in Australia. This year, NPCW will be held from 21st-27th May 2023.
The aim of NPCW is to raise awareness of the importance of palliative care, not just for people at the end of their lives, but for anyone with a life-limiting illness. NPCW provides an opportunity for individuals, health professionals, and communities to come together to share knowledge, raise awareness, and promote understanding of palliative care.
Palliative Care Australia has developed a range of resources for individuals, health professionals, and communities to help raise awareness of palliative care during NPCW. These resources include posters, social media tiles, and fact sheets that provide information about the importance of palliative care and how it can help people with life-limiting illnesses.
One of the key messages of NPCW is that palliative care is a collaborative effort. Palliative care requires a team-based approach that involves healthcare professionals, patients, and their families. The team works together to develop a care plan that meets the individual needs of the patient and their family.
The team-based approach to palliative care is particularly important for people with complex needs. These may include people with multiple chronic conditions, people with dementia, or people with a mental health condition. Palliative care can provide support for these individuals and their families, helping them to navigate the healthcare system and access the care and support they need.
NPCW also provides an opportunity to raise awareness of the different types of palliative care available. Palliative care can be provided in a range of settings, including hospitals, aged care facilities, and in the home. Palliative care can also be provided by a range of healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals.
Another important message of NPCW is that palliative care is not just for the patient, but also for their families and loved ones. Palliative care provides emotional support and practical assistance for families and loved ones, helping them to cope with the challenges of caring for someone with a life-limiting illness.
One of the key challenges facing palliative care in Australia is the lack of access to care in regional and remote areas. Many people in regional and remote areas do not have access to specialist palliative care services, which can make it difficult for them to access the care and support they need.
NPCW provides an opportunity to raise awareness of the need for better access to palliative care in regional and remote areas. Palliative Care Australia is calling on the government to invest in specialist palliative care services in regional and remote areas to ensure that everyone has access to the care they need.
In conclusion, National Palliative Care Week is an important initiative that raises awareness of the importance of palliative care and the needs of people with life-limiting illnesses and their families. The theme of this year’s NPCW, “Palliative Care It’s more than you think,” highlights that palliative.
also has an annual theme, 2022 was “It’s your right”, 2021 was “It’s more than you think” and 2020 was “What matters most?”
Sometimes Volunteer Week and Palliative Care Week share the same week in May but rarely.
As we work very closely with the Specialist Palliative Care Service Team in the North West, we involve our service in National Palliative Care Week.
More information: https://palliativecare.org.au/
