A donation of $88,456 will bring the Otago Community Hospice one step closer to implementing an internationally recognised care programme for people entering their last hours of life, a hospice manager says.
The donation was made by the Community Trust of Otago in its March funding round.
Hospice chief executive officer Ginny Green said the donation would cover ‘‘about two-thirds'' of the cost of implementing the Liverpool Care Pathway scheme.
The programme would provide health-care professionals with guidelines and training to better help people who were dying, and their families, during the last 48 hours of the patient's life.
‘‘As the only community-based specialist palliative care provider in Otago, it's our responsibility to lead the way by implementing new initiatives to improve patient care and support associated health professionals . . .
‘‘We wouldn't be able to progress this project without [the donation], and are pleased the trust recognised the value of the programme to the wider community,'' Ms Green said.
The hospice planned to recruit a facilitator next month and to implement a pilot scheme over the next year.
The programme would be established in-house before being introduced to the wider community, and might be applied in rural hospitals and rest-homes in the next five years, Ms Green said.
The organisation would apply to various funding bodies to meet the ongoing programme costs, of about $120,000 a year, she said.
Trust chief executive Keith Ellwood said 20 Otago organisations would benefit from the $193,000 distributed by the trust this month.
Other donations included: The Central Otago Women's Support Link ($7000); the Balclutha Golf Club Inc ($25,000); Big River Promotions ($5000); AFS NZ Otago Chapter ($1000); Aroha Ki Te Tamariki Trust ($5000); Dunedin Amenities Society Inc ($4000); Kai korai Metropolitan Brass Inc ($4000); NZ Salmon Anglers Association Otago Branch ($10,000); Otago Art Society Inc ($1000); Otago Sports Car Club Inc ($17,500); Purakanui Amenities Society ($500); Ronald McDonald House South Island Trust ($2000) Scout Association - Grants Braes ($1500); Mosgiel Methodist Church ($2000); Totara Estate - NZ Historic Places Trust ($3500); Upper Waitaki Pioneer Gallery and Museum ($5000); Naseby Golf Club ($5000) Flag Swamp School ($800) Mt Aspiring College ($5000).
