Why the palliative care sector feels under fire, under-funded and under pressure to allow assisted dying practitioners into its facilities

A government proposal to axe the only two jobs in New Zealand's health sector of people who were working on a national strategy for palliative care has angered those in the sector, which is already under immense strain.

It's put another wedge between those who want terminally ill patients to live well before they die; and those who want to give them the option of dying earlier.

Yes, this is another story about the stretched New Zealand health service.

But it's one that will affect the 89 percent of us who will die naturally and will require nursing at the end of their lives.

- The palliative care sector, much of it provided through the efforts of volunteers, has felt under attack lately. Here's why:

- The plan to dispense with the jobs of two people who had been giving palliative care a voice in the health service, and in government

- Recent critical news stories about two patients who had to be moved from their aged care facility and hospice because they wanted an assisted death, which wasn't allowed on the premises.

- A commentary in The Listener by End-of-Life Choice Society president Ann David titled "Dignity Denied" that said some doctors, health care facilities and hospices are obstructing patients' rights when it comes to dying. (The law says that doctors are not allowed to bring the subject up themselves, but the accusations here went further.)…

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details