Hospice Care Week is a chance to highlight the amazing care provided by our local hospice, and the people who work in it.
This year’s theme is #WeAreHospiceCare and the aim is to celebrate everyone that makes Hospice Care what it is.
Southern Area Hospice Services aims to help patients who have received a palliative diagnosis live well with their condition. They provide the highest standard of specialist palliative care across the Southern Health and Social Care Trust area.
This high-quality care extends beyond the Hospice buildings into the community. It is provided by a multi-disciplinary team consisting of chaplains, complementary therapists, counsellors, dieticians, nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists, social workers, doctors, and occupational support, all supported by the administration teams, catering, maintenance, finance, fundraising and housekeeping as well as the team of 300 dedicated volunteers.
Last year the Inpatient Unit in Newry cared for 234 patients, and every single day those patients received a daily visit from a medical consultant or doctor as well as having specialist nurses available 24 hours a day. Alongside this medical and nursing care, patients received almost 5,500 therapy sessions provided by the chaplains, social workers, physiotherapists and reflexologists.
Bridget Smyth, Director of Care at Southern Area Hospice Services said: “It is the whole team here, from the medical staff to complimentary therapists, kitchen staff to volunteer gardeners and drivers, who look after our patients every year, and make our Hospice so special.
“This Hospice Care Week, we want to recognise and celebrate the work that they do and thank them all. Working across our Hospice services is incredibly rewarding, the staff at Southern Area Hospice Services have the privilege of helping individuals find comfort, dignity, and peace during one of life’s most difficult times.”
One patient’s family recently commented: “The Hospice runs like clockwork. The staff are so caring and understanding. They are well chosen for the job they do.”
This week Southern Area Hospice Services will be sharing videos and posts across their social media that shine a spotlight on ‘what Hospice Care is’ and highlighting different people across all departments in the Hospice.
They are encouraging you to get involved by sharing posts and commenting using the hashtags #HospiceCare #WeAreHospiceCare #SouthernAreaHospice.
