Bay hospices' $2.8m boost

Hospice services in the Bay of Plenty are in line for $2.8 million in additional funding for the next four years.

Bay of Plenty DHB will receive around an extra $720,000 a year for Hospice Eastern Bay of Plenty and Waipuna Hospice.


The opening of Waipuna Hospice's new Day Services Wing in March. Photo: Waipuna Hospice Facebook.

The new funding takes effect from July 1 this year.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says: 'Hospices make a huge difference to people's lives by ensuring terminally ill people are as free from pain and suffering as possible.

'They also provide valuable care and support for families and friends.

'As New Zealand's population grows and ages, the demand for palliative care continues to increase.

'That's why in Budget 2015, we allocated $52 million over four years to help hospices around the country to expand their community palliative care services.”

In 2013, more than 15,000 people received care and support from hospice services throughout New Zealand, and hospice staff made more than 145,000 home visits.

Just over 20 per cent of people using hospice services were aged 60 and under, while three-quarters had a cancer-related disease.

'The extra funding means the teams at these hospices will be able to better support terminally ill people at home and in aged-care facilities,” adds Jonathan.

'This funding boost is part of the Government's commitment to delivering high-quality services closer to home.”

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