Media Release 19/11/09

For immediate release

Mary Potter Hospice is celebrating its 30th anniversary with an Open Day on 22 November at its Inpatient Unit in Newtown.

Chief Executive, Ria Earp, says that they are inviting the public to visit and celebrate 30 years of caring in the community.

“We believe that coming to our Open Day will give people a great deal to see and think about. Much has changed over recent decades and now caring for our community means providing care and support wherever people need us. We want people to understand that our service belongs to the community and that Hospice is wherever patients and families need us to be,” she says.

The Hospice was officially opened in July 1979, although it had operated as a ward at the old Calvary Hospital in Newtown since 1974. Mary Potter Hospice was set up to care for patients with a terminal or a life-limiting illness in the wider Wellington region.

In 1985 the Hospice received funding from the Government for half the beds. In the following year the Hospice decided that, with community support, all beds would be free of charge. Then in 1989, a massive appeal, the first of its kind, raised $6.3million to build a purpose designed Inpatient Unit in Newtown. This was officially opened in August 1990 providing 24-hour patient care.

The Hospice has gone on to set up Palliative Care teams that work extensively throughout communities in Wellington, Paraparaumu and Porirua. Most of the Hospice care occurs in patients’ homes, rather than in the Inpatient Unit, with the community teams coordinating care for patients and their families and carers.

“We’ve chosen the 22nd November for our Open Day, because it’s the birth date of our namesake, Mary Potter. We hope people will come along, talk about Hospice with us, and join us in celebrating 30 years of caring in our community,” says Ria.

Open Day Details

* Sunday 22 November 2-4 pm

* 48 Mein Street, Newtown. No parking is available on the grounds

* Tours of the Hospice will start at 2.15pm

* See information displays from the last 30 years

ENDS

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