Palliative care aims to prevent and relieve suffering and improve the quality of life of people (adults, children and their families) facing problems associated with life-limiting illness. Palliative care can be delivered by a wide range of health and community providers, is not limited to any specific condition, can be delivered at any stage of illness, and can accompany curative treatments. With an ageing and growing population, it is projected that the demand for palliative care and end-of-life care will rise substantially.
Palliative care services in Australia has been published as a web only report since 2015.
Findings from this report:
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14,500 people received 69,100 palliative medicine attendance and case conference services in 2021–22
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There was an 23% increase in palliative care-related hospitalisations between 2015–16 and 2020–21
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1.3 million palliative care-related prescriptions were provided to 453,300 people in 2021–22
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4,800 people using permanent residential aged care had an ACFI appraisal indicating need for palliative care in 2021–22