17 May 2017 Sunraysia Daily, Mildura VIC (General News) PEOPLE at the end of their lives in Mildura will soon have better access to high quality and compassionate palliative care closer to home. Sunraysia Community Health Services will receive $23,000 as part of the State Governments $5 million equipment fund for palliative care, giving services the tools they need to support people and carers to provide care at home. The funding will provide a new car to enable staff to make home visits to patients who wish to spend their last days at home with their family, friends and loved ones. Every Victorian should be able to access compassionate end-of-life care, Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes said. This new car will make a real difference for seriously ill patients and their families in Mildura by improving access to the community palliative care provided in their own homes. Minister for Health Jill Hennessy also announced the second round of the governments $200 million Regional Health Infrastructure Fund would open next Monday and, for the first time, be expanded to include publicly funded community palliative care services. In addition to palliative care services, the second round includes all health, community health, aged care, womens health and Aboriginal community controlled health organisations. Grants can be used to build new or remodel existing facilities to provide greater comfort for patients and enable doctors and nurses to deliver safer and more efficient care. Health services can also apply to buy equipment including furniture, fittings, and medical equipment or upgrade essential infrastructure such as plant equipment, systems to reduce power and water usage and information and communications technology. Licensed by Copyright Agency. You may only copy or communicate this work with a licence