The Otago Community Hospice is the only specialist provider of hospice/community-based palliative care in Otago.
Hospice services are 50% government-funded.
The hospice relies enormously on its community to raise funds to provide what is an essential health service.
In the past financial year, the hospice raised a record $1.1 million from its community. The Otago hospice's operating expenses increased by about 10% each year for the past three years.
This was due to:
• Increasing personnel costs.
• Increasing numbers of patients requiring services.
To provide specialist services, the hospice must employ specialist staff.
In order to recruit, retain and value these staff, the hospice must pay rates that are competitive with district hospital board specialist staff rates.
The number of patients being referred to the Otago Community Hospice and using the variety of hospice services has increased significantly (26%) in the past 12 months, and especially from rural areas.
Demand for palliative care services is projected to increase in coming years, the increase related mainly to the incidence of cancer, an ageing population and the growing palliative care needs of people with chronic illnesses.
Hospice New Zealand's aim is to have 70% of hospice operating expenses funded by government.
Hospices nationally receive district health board funding in the range of 50%-70% of operating expenditure.
The Otago Community Hospice provides a variety of services, some partially government-funded and some unfunded.
• Care in the community is partially funded.
• Care in the North Rd facility is funded.
• Bereavement support is partially funded.
• Education services are unfunded.
• Day respite services are unfunded.
The Otago Community Hospice remains committed to providing the highest level of palliative care at no cost to patients or their families.
- Ginny Green
