NORTHERN IRELAND HOSPICE SERVICES AND FUNDING
An address given by me at a function where a donation was being made to NI Hospice.
I am sure you have all heard of Northern Ireland Hospice but unless you have first hand experience of Hospice Services you may not know much about it.
I have been asked to talk to you briefly about the work of the Hospice and about how it is financed.
The main Northern Ireland Hospice is in Somerton Road in North Belfast where a service is provided for adults, but there is also a recently built facility in O'Neill Road Newtownabbey which is exclusively for children. This is now known as 'The Children's Hospice' but it is a branch of Northern Ireland Hospice and is administered and funded by the Northern Ireland Hospice.
‘We provide specialist care to children, young people and adults with life-limiting illness. Our main aim in both the adult and children’s service is to provide the best quality of life for our patients and their families in Hospice and in the community’
Day Hospice
Day hospice offers a range of therapies and services allowing patients to meet new people, share their experiences, manage their symptoms and participate in new activities. This also gives families a break as well. If required a team of volunteer Day Hospice drivers can collect patients in the morning and take them home when the Day hospice is over.
In-Patient Unit
Patients are admitted to the in-patient unit for a variety of reasons. Some are admitted for the relief of pain or other symptoms and will return home when the problem has been resolved.
Others are admitted for respite care to give families and carers a break.
Patients may also be admitted during the last few weeks of life when it may be more difficult to provide care at home.
Care At Home
Most seriously ill patients would prefer to remain in their own homes. Families are often willing and able to provide this kind of care but they need support. This support comes in a number of forms and is provided by Hospice Nurse Specialists and Hospice Community Nurses with specialist training in palliative care. They not only give nursing care to patients but also give practical and emotional support and respite to their families and carers.
Funding
I do not have detailed information on the financing of the Northern Ireland Hospice but I do know that it takes £6 million per year to run Northern Ireland Hospice services and while some funding is available from Government and other sources the hospice relies heavily on the public to raise £3million of this amount through donations, legacies and fundraising events.
There are Hospice Shops in most major towns and cities in Northern Ireland where good quality clothing and other items can be donated and are then sold to the general public.
You will be aware of various fundraising sports events and other activities.
There are a number of fundraising committees throughout Northern Ireland including Ballymena area and it is as a member of the Ballymena Area Committee that I am speaking to you tonight.
Over the last ten years we have raised an average of just over £1000 per week, largely through the support of events such as the one here tonight. We ourselves organize a number of events, notably:
an annual street collection;
an annual fashion show;
an annual Christmas Fair;
but also an on-going programme of other activities.
We need additional volunteers to join this group – particularly young people.
New build and temporary accommodation.
At present all Adult Hospice operations have been moved to a section of Whiteabbey Hospital as the building in Somerton Road is being rebuilt. The building work has just started and it is hoped that it will be completed before the end of 2015.
The rebuild will cost £13 million. £10million of this funding is already in place with a further £3 million still to be raised.
You can subscribe to the building fund through the Buy a Brick Scheme.
Finally
While the hospice is mostly identified with cancer sufferers it also deals with other
life-limiting illnesses and it is intended that the rebuilt hospice in Somerton Road will also specialise in care for persons with dementia and persons with respiratory and other non-malignant illnesses.
HOSPICE - A SPECIAL WAY OF CARING
The Foundation Stone for the New Hospice Building was laid on November, 12th, 2014.