Hospice NZ

All of New Zealand's hospices come under Hospice New Zealand's umbrella. They provide free palliative care to people living with terminal illness regardless of ethnicity, religion or age, while also supporting family/whanau and friends.
About 8000 new patients and their families receive help from hospices each year and that number is rising every year - from 1999 to 2005 numbers jumped 41 percent.

Yet hospices are only partially Government funded and rely heavily on community fundraising to cover their running costs.

The Buzz contribution will go to the national organisation - Hospice New Zealand - to help fund its valuable work with the country's hospices . The national office works to improve national policies and resourcing that affect care, is actively involved in education and workforce development, establishes standards of care, provides information and advice to hospices and the public, and supports and helps palliative care providers through co-operative activities.

What is a Hospice?
Hospice palliative care can be provided in hospice inpatient units, hospital hospice wards or in a person's home or place of residence in the community. Hospice is a concept, a philosophy of care.

Hospice or palliative care is a special type of care for people whose illness may no longer be curable. It enables them to achieve the best possible quality of life during the final stages of their illness. It includes family support and bereavement services.

Hospice services vary depending on the communities needs. Services may include inpatient and community care, bereavement care, counselling and spiritual care, day-stay care, respite care, equipment hire and some provide education and research.

Services are provided by a multidisciplinary team which may include doctors, nurses, counsellors, spiritual counsellors, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, social workers and volunteer co-ordinators.

To read more about Hospice New Zealand, visit www.hospice.org.nz