Dramatic cuts in staffing levels in the South-East regional palliative care service in South Australia came into effect on 1 July 2015. The cuts made are:

• Clinical lead position in palliative care, cut entirely
• Bereavement counselling for people whose loved one has recently passed away, no longer available
• Nursing care halved from full-time equivalents of 2.4 to 1.2
• Part-time nursing position in Bordertown removed entirely
• Manager of geriatric evaluation and management (GEM), removed entirely.

These cuts will result in little to no hands-on or face-to-face care at home for dying people and their grieving families. As the above services providing in-home support to patients and families have been drastically cut or removed, this can only increase reliance on already stretched hospital resources. For many people it is vital to be at home during this time for emotional support and a stable environment.

Caring for people facing the end of life requires specialist services and knowledge. For patients and families facing death at home, it can be a very lonely time, with the future unknown and often feared. People need to have confidence in the knowledge and skills of those who attend to them and from the competence of these professionals, gain the courage to continue at home.

Please, Minister Snelling, show some compassion. Tell us why the decision to cut these vital services in this already under-resourced region was made, and ensure that services are in place to give some comfort and hope to dying people and those who love them.