Ginny Green spoke to a small assembly of members plus a few extra via zoom.Ginny has been the CEO of the Otago Community Hospice for fifteen years. She is from Dunedin, has held many positions in the health services and is a member of Rotary. Rather than give a formal presentation Ginny opted to have an interactive discussion with members. Ginny sought questions and comments from members and used these to dispel some of the myths around the hospice service.
To begin, in answer to a question about the average time a person is in the hospice, Ginny explained that the building is only a small part of the service. Currently the hospice is supporting about two hundred and fifty patients of whom only two are in the unit. The focus of the hospice is to support people with terminal illness to live and die well. Ginny said that people prefer to be in their home for care and to die. The service is about supporting people’s mental wellbeing, their spiritual health, their physical health and family wellbeing. Most of the work is about visiting and talking to people in their own homes.
The turnover for the hospice is around $7m, of which nearly 60% comes from government funding and the balance from hospice shops, donations, events and grants. This year the shops closed for three weeks due to covid leaving a shortfall in this year’s funding. Ginny suggested that anyone wishing to help could via the “give a little” page. Whilst the hospice benefits from government funding the organisation prefers to be independent so that it can provide a service based on its values and choices.
The hospice movement is anti-euthanasia. Ginny indicated that fundamentally the hospice and palliative care is to neither hasten nor postpone the natural progression of death. She says that the hospice will continue to support to the community no matter what the patient’s decision is around euthanasia.
Ginny reported that currently the hospice is able to recruit enough doctors and nurses to meet its needs. The organisation befits greatly from about 350 volunteers helping in the shops, gardens and kitchens.
To conclude her discussion Ginny talked about the desirability of people having a will, powers of attorney in place, and a plan for advanced care.
To begin, in answer to a question about the average time a person is in the hospice, Ginny explained that the building is only a small part of the service. Currently the hospice is supporting about two hundred and fifty patients of whom only two are in the unit. The focus of the hospice is to support people with terminal illness to live and die well. Ginny said that people prefer to be in their home for care and to die. The service is about supporting people’s mental wellbeing, their spiritual health, their physical health and family wellbeing. Most of the work is about visiting and talking to people in their own homes.
The turnover for the hospice is around $7m, of which nearly 60% comes from government funding and the balance from hospice shops, donations, events and grants. This year the shops closed for three weeks due to covid leaving a shortfall in this year’s funding. Ginny suggested that anyone wishing to help could via the “give a little” page. Whilst the hospice benefits from government funding the organisation prefers to be independent so that it can provide a service based on its values and choices.
The hospice movement is anti-euthanasia. Ginny indicated that fundamentally the hospice and palliative care is to neither hasten nor postpone the natural progression of death. She says that the hospice will continue to support to the community no matter what the patient’s decision is around euthanasia.
Ginny reported that currently the hospice is able to recruit enough doctors and nurses to meet its needs. The organisation befits greatly from about 350 volunteers helping in the shops, gardens and kitchens.
To conclude her discussion Ginny talked about the desirability of people having a will, powers of attorney in place, and a plan for advanced care.
The hospice is facing their second street appeal cancellation in a row. Please help make up the loss of this $35,000 event by donating today.
