In this submission PCA welcomes the opportunity to comment on the revised National Consensus Statement - Essential elements for safe and high-quality end of life care.

PCA’s provides comments on the revised National Consensus Statement in the context that the definition of ‘Palliative Care’ is that used in the Australian Government’s National Palliative Care Strategy 2018 (available at: www.safetyandquality.gov.au) and that palliative care should be available from the time of diagnosis of a life-limiting illness. Overall, PCA supports the provision of the highest quality and most comprehensive palliative care for those with life-limiting illness, where and when it is needed. In this context, PCA recommends that the revised National Consensus Statement refer to the provision and application of palliative care more broadly.

PCA also provides specific comments on relevant elements of the draft National Consensus Statement. These relate to:

• the inclusion of allied health professionals as part of multidisciplinary teams
• incorporation of grief and bereavement as part of comprehensive care, and that grief and bereavement support may be required for periods long after a person has died
• the inclusion of palliative care training and some examples of existing training options

PCA also expresses concern regarding the discontinuation of the National Consensus Statement: essential elements for safe and high-quality paediatric end-of-life care.

PCA Survey Response - National Consensus Statement