Milton Cancer Outpatients Appeal president Dee Carrington has called on Federal Member for Gilmore Ann Sudmalis to make the facility a priority after the project missed the boat in the lead-up to this year’s federal budget.

Mrs Carrington said there was a growing need for a palliative care unit in the Ulladulla area, with more and more patients forced to spend their final days or weeks at the closest facility in Berry.

Mrs Carrington said the community had raised a “significant amount” towards the cost of the centre which she said would ideally be built in conjunction with the proposed renal dialysis unit at the hospital at a total cost of more than $2.5 million.

However on Monday Mrs Sudmalis told Mrs Carrington there was “no way” the facility would receive funding within 12 or even 18 months due to the Commonweath’s financial position.

Mrs Sudmalis told the Times the government’s finances were in an “appallingly abysmal state”, with “no funds available for additional, non-budgeted projects” such as the palliative care unit.

She said she would be “keeping an eye open” for any grants that might become available.

The best way for the community to attract funds was for the outpatients committee and the hospital auxiliary’s dialysis fundraising committee to join forces and focus on one project, she said.

“The plan is to build the dialysis unit on the lower level and the palliative care centre above,” Mrs Sudmalis said.

“It makes sense to do it all as one project and funds could be sourced from a number of government departments.”

Mrs Carrington said plans were underway for the facility, which had the support of the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District, however combined funding from a federal, state and community level would be required to make it become a reality.

“The community is committed to making this happen,” she said.

“We want to send a message to the government that we, as a community, are willing and able to raise our share of the funds.

“We have done it before, for the cancer centre, and we can do it again.”

Mrs Carrington said a national study of aged residents indicated palliative care close to home was the number one health issue.

“It is also an issue that is always raised locally,” she said.

“People don’t want to spend their final days away from their families.

“We are in desperate need of a facility locally.”

She said 80 per cent of local palliative care clients were cancer patients and the facility would be a welcome addition to the community cancer clinic.

During their meeting on Monday, both Mrs Sudmalis and Mrs Carrington urged members of the public to write to Members of Parliament outlining the need for a facility in the area, and to sign a petition that would soon be available on Mrs Sumalis’ website.

With hundreds of community groups lining up for health funds throughout the country, Mrs Sudmalis said it was up to the community to make its thoughts known loud and clear.

“I understand that this is a priority for Ulladulla and I will be doing all I can to try and scrape money together for the project,” she added.

“The reality is, the money just isn’t there at the moment.”