HOSPICE AWARENESS WEEK 17 – 23 May 2021

Hospice CEO Ginny Green is anticipating a week focused on lifting the community’s awareness of the Hospice service.

“Our team are always in the community caring for our vulnerable patient and family population and sometimes we don’t get the chance to lift our heads, so this week of awareness is a great time for us to take stock. And there is something especially meaningful this year as we get closer to a covid-free community.”

The Otago Community Hospice has the Otago region well catered for with its palliative specialist team of six doctors, 13 community care coordinators, three nurse practitioners, three counsellors, two social workers and two spiritual coordinators servicing the Otago region from four key sites: Central Otago, North Otago, South Otago and Dunedin.

“We also have a wonderfully equipped inpatient unit staffed by a very experienced team who care for patients in acute situations.”

Ms Green emphasizes that the Hospice service is only possible due to the wonderful community support it receives every year.

“Over Hospice Awareness Week, the fabulous teams at Mitre10 Mega Dunedin, Mitre10 Mosgiel, Mitre10 Alexandra, Mitre10 Cromwell and Mitre10 Mega Wanaka are running their add-a-dollar Campaign. It’s tremendous to get this level of support and we take our hats off to the committed Mitre10 staff who ask for the donations on our behalf throughout the week.

“We also have schools participating in the fun Hospice Colour Day on Monday May 17th, where we challenge schools, daycares or kindergartens to wear ALL the colours of the rainbow and shine bright like a diamond for Otago Hospice.

“But this week is also about reminding people how Hospice operates. Some people still have a view of Hospice as a building, but we are so much more than that, with our service predominantly delivered in the community – it may surprise our community that only 20% of patients will ever require an admission to our inpatient unit for acute and complex symptom management. We also have a big education service, a 24/7 advice line for patients, families and also for health practitioners who need palliative advice for patients, even if not on the Hospice programme,” says Ms Green.

· Hospice supports people to live every moment in whatever way is important to them.

· Hospice cares for people wherever they want to be

· Physical, cultural, spiritual and emotional needs are all part of hospice care.

· People with any life-limiting condition – dementia, end stage organ failure, neuro degenerative conditions – can access hospice support

· Hospice services are free

ENDS

For more information contact:

Ginny Green, CEO, Otago Community Hospice, 027 487 2345

Background

Otago Community Hospice supports people with terminal illness to live and die well. The Hospice provides specialist palliative care services - free of charge - to around 750 people across the Otago region each year. Our multidisciplinary team includes community care coordinators, palliative specialist doctors, counsellors, social workers, and spiritual care co-ordinators, who work closely with GPs, hospitals, aged care facilities and the team of district nurses, to deliver the full range of palliative care services. More than 75% of Hospice patients are cared for in their home. Part-funded by a DHB contract, each year the Hospice has to raise $2.5 million – to maintain its free wrap-around service.