Palliative Care Council Terms of Reference

Terms of Reference

Introduction

The Government wants to ensure that all people with a life-limiting illness have access to high quality palliative and end-of-life care, regardless of ethnicity, age, geographic location or diagnosis.

Objectives

The Palliative Care Council (PCC) was established in 2008 by Cancer Control New Zealand (formerly the Cancer Control Council of New Zealand) to provide independent and expert advice to the Minister of Health, and to report on New Zealand’s performance in providing palliative and end-of-life care.

This will be achieved through independent advice on:

  • A strategic approach to palliative and end-of-life care that supports and involves the sector.
  • Initiatives to reduce inequalities in access to palliative and end-of-life care services.
  • How effectively initiatives have been implemented.
  • International directions and initiatives in palliative and end-of-life care.

The PCC will also report on progress in implementing the New Zealand Palliative Care Strategy.

Accountability

The PCC is accountable to the Minister of Health through Cancer Control New Zealand.

Key tasks

The PCC is responsible for providing independent strategic advice on issues related to palliative and end-of-life care.

The PCC will provide advice to the Minister of Health in seven main areas:

  • Access to essential services for people with life-limiting and life-threatening illnesses.
  • Service models/frameworks for palliative care services.
  • Palliative and end-of-life care needs of specific population groups.
  • Workforce requirements.
  • Equity of access.
  • Sector data and information.
  • Palliative and end-of-life care research.

The PCC will also report on New Zealand’s performance in providing palliative and end-of life care and provide other advice as requested by, or by agreement with, the Minister of Health.

Working Arrangements

The PCC will meet bi-monthly.

A Secretariat will support the PCC’s work.

The PCC will agree its work programme annually with Cancer Control New Zealand and the Minister of Health.

The Chair will attend the bi-monthly Cancer Control New Zealand meeting with the Minister of Health. A written report is to be included with Cancer Control New Zealand’s report provided to the Minister of Health prior to the meeting.

The PCC will utilise whatever means it deems appropriate to collect information, including use of national work groups, Regional Palliative Care Networks, and published and unpublished literature. When appropriate, the PCC is expected to network for information from overseas organisations and experts, particularly those in Australia and other Commonwealth countries, where health services have experienced similar issues with palliative care as New Zealand.

Representatives from the Ministry of Health will regularly attend part of each Council meeting to provide information to the Council and report to the Council on progress of the Ministry’s work programme. However, unless requested, the Ministry will not attend deliberations of Council.

In carrying out its work the Council will foster a spirit of cooperation and collaboration between bodies involved in palliative and end of life care, and endeavor to raise awareness of the importance of palliative care. In addition, all advice provided by the PCC will be inclusive of the needs of specific patient groups as and when appropriate, including:

  • Infants, children and adolescents.
  • The aged (particularly those in residential care facilities).
  • Maori, Pacific Island, Asian and other cultures.
  • Those with a non-cancer diagnosis.
  • Those living in rural and remote locations.

Membership

The 8 member Council, including the Chair and Deputy Chair, will be appointed by Cancer Control New Zealand, and will include senior practitioners who are identified as having a leadership role in palliative care. The Chair will be appointed at the first meeting and will hold this position for no less than twelve months.

Composition of the Palliative Care Council of New Zealand:

Six Board positions are elected by specific voting organisations, namely: The New Zealand Branch of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Palliative Medicine (ANZSPM), Hospice New Zealand (HNZ), Hospital Palliative Care New Zealand (HPCNZ), Palliative Care Nurses New Zealand, the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (RNZCGP) in discussion with the New Zealand Rural General Practice Network, and “Generalist” Nursing representation (via the Nursing Council of New Zealand) ensuring representation from the aged residential care sector.

One Board member will be invited by Maori to represent Maori and will hold a position on the Board at all times.

One Board member will be a Consumer representative.

The PCC may co-opt expert advisors as required.

Terms of Membership

The term of appointment is two years. A Member is eligible to serve a maximum of three terms (i.e. six years). A Member may resign by notifying Cancer Control New Zealand in writing.

Termination of the PCC

The Minister of Health may, by written notice, terminate the PCC or the appointment of a Member or Chair of the PCC.

Conflict of interest

All members must agree to abide by the Ministry of Health’s Conflict of Interest protocol.

Confidentiality

Media statements will be made by the Chair or, at the Chair’s invitation, the Deputy Chair. The Chair or Deputy Chair will provide the Chair of Cancer Control New Zealand and the Minister of Health or the Minister’s office with advance notice of any media statements.

All Council meetings will be held ‘in committee’, and minutes of proceedings will not be circulated outside the Council. It is expected that official Council reports to the Minister of Health will be released into the public domain once the Minister of Health has agreed. The Council’s proceedings and advice are subject to the provisions of the Official Information Act 1982.

Palliative Care Council of New Zealand — Terms of Reference (01/2010)