Community Support Remains Vital for Hospice

Community Support Remains Vital for Hospice

28 May 2009 –West Auckland Hospice will benefit from the Government’s recent budget announcement which sees hospice services throughout the country receiving a $15m injection of funding.

West Auckland Hospice chief executive officer Barbara Williams is delighted about the additional funding from Government believing it is a welcome relief, especially given the tough economic climate.

“It is fantastic news and couldn’t have come at a better time as we are extremely aware of the downturn in the economy and the impact it is having on families and business in West Auckland which in turn is affecting our fundraising revenue.

While the Government’s additional funding for hospices throughout the country is a welcome boost there is still a funding shortfall to cover the operational expenses a hospice faces annually.
“We are very grateful for the additional funding but the reality is we still need to fundraise to meet the shortfall in our annual operating costs.”

Barbara Williams says hospices throughout the country are incredibly well supported by their communities.

“We just could not operate without the West Auckland community’s co-operation and assistance – both financially and through our volunteer team.
In addition to fundraising, we have our valuable network of volunteers whom provide essential services such as driving, cooking, cleaning, gardening for patients in the community. Volunteers may also be involved in helping with some of the programmes provided by the hospice.

“Hospice constantly battle the perception that hospice is a place where people go to die. Hospice is a philosophy around how to care for people who have a life limiting illness. Our care ensures that they and their families are cared for with the utmost professional skill, compassion and respect and can get on with living every moment.”

Hospice will receive the additional funding from July 09

Further information about Hospice:

West Auckland Hospice provides free 24 hour, 7 day a week specialist palliative care. Our focus is on relieving physical pain and emotional and/or spiritual concerns of patients, care givers and their families, so that they experience end of life as fully as possible.

Our community Hospice serves a diverse population of 220,000 throughout greater West Auckland, to the west coast beaches, Kumeu and Helensville, and up to the South Kaipara Heads. At any one time our service delivery teams are caring for more than180 families in West Auckland, available 24/7.

Many patients express the desire, when they become aware that they are going to die, to die at home where they are in a familiar situation and possibly surrounded by family and friends. Statistics indicate that 90% of patients wish to die at home and only 2% choose to die in hospital.

Our teams of specialist nurses go to patients in their own homes giving them the choice to die at home with the proper care and support systems in place. We also provide specialist equipment, extensive grief and bereavement services, as well as a range of patient and family day programmes and complementary therapies including massage and acupuncture. These programmes are designed to give patients and their families access to specialist services and to provide information, support and interaction.

Hospice listens.
Hospice addresses pain, symptoms, questions and fears.
Hospice educates.
Hospice provides support and comfort.
Hospice consistently earns the highest satisfaction ratings in health care.

ENDS

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