Palliative care services in Australia

In 2022–23, 66,300 Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS)-subsidised palliative medicine attendance and case conference services were provided by palliative medicine physicians or specialists, at an average of 4.8 services per person. Among these services (Figure 1):

• More services were provided to females (34,700 or 52%) compared with males (31,600 or 48%), averaging at 5.1 and 4.5 services per females and males, respectively. 
• The number of services per person was relatively similar for those aged 15 and over – ranging from 4.4 to 5.7, except for those aged 25–34 where it dipped to 3.3 services per person. For those aged under 15, the number of services per person was considerably lower, at 1.3 services per person.  
• 4 in 5 services (83% or 55,200) were for attendances in a consulting room or hospital, 3.8% (2,500) for attendances in other settings (such as in person’s place of residence) and 13% (8,700) for case conferences.
• The number of services per person was highest in Western Australia both for attendances and case conferences (6.6 and 2.2 services per person, respectively), followed by Victoria (6.0 and 2.0 services per person, respectively). Note that the data for palliative medicine attendances and case conferences in Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory are not presented due to small numbers.
• The number of services per person was highest in Remote and very remote areas both for attendances and case conferences (8.7 and 3.4 services per person, respectively). While it was lowest in Outer regional areas for attendances (3.3 services per person) and similar in Major cities, Inner regional and Outer regional areas for case conferences (1.5–1.7 services per person).

Figure 1: MBS-subsidised palliative medicine attendance and case conference services provided by palliative medicine physicians or specialists, 2022–23