Central Otago Hospice Team Gets New Car From Hugo Charitable Trust

The Otago Community Hospice team in Central Otago have experienced significant growth in patient numbers over the last year, now averaging 50 patients at any one time compared to 32 at this time last year, with each patient having a network around them that Hospice also support - family, carers, other health providers. The team already cover over 90,000 kms a year, and with another coordinator joining the team this week, another car was needed.

Hospice CEO Ginny Green says the Hugo Charitable Trust’s support was timed perfectly.

“We had been wrestling with these increased numbers and knowing our resources were stretched, so to have the Hugo Charitable Trust swoop in with the offer of a car purchase at the same time as we were looking to add another team member, it was just perfect.”

The Hugo Charitable Trust was established in May 2017 by Maryanne Green, the eldest daughter of Irish philanthropist and businessman the late Hugh Green, known in Ireland as Hugo. Maryanne worked closely at Hugh’s side for over 25 years where she developed a deep understanding of Hugh’s philanthropic priorities and wishes. Maryanne set up Hugo Charitable Trust to continue Hugh’s philanthropic legacy and to give back to the people of New Zealand.

Maryanne and her husband, Mark Owens, live in Arrowtown. As such, they are keenly aware of the distances that the Hospice team have to travel to visit people across Central Otago.

“The Otago Community Hospice does a wonderful job providing wrap-around specialist palliative care services in the community. The Hugo Charitable Trust is pleased to assist the Hospice with a donation of a new car to help it keep pace with its fastest growing population of patients in the Central Otago region,” says Hugo Chairman Mark Owens.

The Hospice’s Cromwell team is made up of Community Care Coordinators: Christine Pacey, Amanda Henderson, Angela Thomas (who joined the team on Monday) and Natalie Franklin and Nurse Practitioner, Louisa Ingham. They are supported by two medical staff working in Central, one out of Lawrence and the other out of Dunedin.

For more information contact:

Ginny Green, ph 027 487 2345

Julia Hunter (Donations Manager, Hugo Charitable Trust), ph 021 456 491

Hugo Charitable Trust:

To learn more about Hugo’s charitable purposes and the organisations and individuals the Trust supports, visit the website – www.hugocharitabletrust.nz – and read Hugo’s latest Newsletter & Annual Report. The Trust is always on the lookout for great causes to support.

Otago Community Hospice:

The Otago Community Hospice is focused on supporting and empowering all people who are dying in Otago, to live well and die well. The Hospice provides specialist palliative care services free of charge. At any one time the Hospice is looking after an average of 205 people across the wider region. Our a multidisciplinary team includes Community Care Coordinators, palliative specialist doctors, counsellors, a social worker, an occupational therapist and a spiritual care co-ordinator, who work closely with GPs, hospitals, aged care facilities and the team of district nurses, to deliver the full range of palliative care services to the people of Otago with more than 75% of Hospice patients cared for in their home. The Otago Community Hospice is part-funded by a DHB contract, but each year has to raise 44% of its budget – which equates to $2.5 million – to maintain its free wrap-around service for those needing specialist palliative care. www.otagohospice.co.nz