Edenvale Care Centre Hospice still desperate for help
“If we don't have a Hospice in the area, where will people go for treatment."
The Edenvale Care Centre Hospice is still in desperate need of support from the local community.
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Sister Leigh said despite pleading with the public for help in an article published by the NEWS in July this year, the care centre still needs help.
“I would like to thank all the individuals who did give to the care centre but overall the response was poor.
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“This centre is for the Edenvale community. It caters for everyone and it is the last remaining government hospice in Ekurhuleni,” said Sister Leigh.
She said the Benoni ward has closed down.
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“When I first came to the centre in 2006, it was just a disgusting little white house which cared only for patients with HIV/Aids and Tuberculosis.”
With the help of the government, she turned the care centre around.
“It was difficult at first. With the help of the Department of Health we started from the beginning,” said Sister Leigh.
The hospice now caters for patients with end-stage renal and cardiac failure, hypertension, strokes, diabetes one and two, cancer, HIV/Aids, TB and multi-drug resistant TB.
She said the patients under her care come from nine provincial hospitals in Gauteng stretching from Pretoria to Heidelberg.
“The only costs to the patient when they arrive at the centre is a once-off R300 fee. We provide the patient with medical care, food and a roof over their head.”
“If we don’t have a hospice in the area, where will people go for treatment like this for R300? It’s impossible. You’ll die at home,” said Sister Leigh.
She explained that the R300 is used to pay the nurses’ overtime pay.
Despite the care centre taking in patients from nine hospitals, it has a high turnover rate.
“Many of our patients are able to return home. With young people, we are able to turn their lives around and send them home. The ones who don’t go home are generally the cancer patients.
“We provide our cancer patients tender love and care. We provide pain control and make sure their last days are comfortable and they keep their dignity,” said Sister Leigh.
She said one example of the success the hospice had was that of a 28-year-old woman.
The woman arrived at the hospice, unable to walk, talk and was totally bed-ridden.
Doctors described her as weak, psychotic and confused.
Despite doctors’ initial assessment, the woman was later discharged from the Edenvale Care Centre Hospice and recently returned for a visit.
The woman informed Sister Leigh that she had even returned to work.
To save money, Sister Leigh put several saving initiatives in place.
The hospice has a prepaid electric meter and two solar geysers.
Sister Leigh said with the meter alone she saves R10 000 a month.
Other than caring for those in need, Sister Leigh also provides training to trainee nurses from various colleges.
At the moment she has five trainees.
“The trainees come here and know nothing. I teach them all the basics and they leave with a valuable experience,” said Sister Leigh.
She encouraged all community members to visit the Edenvale Care Centre Hospice and see what she and her nurses do for those in need.
“Visit and have a look at our beautiful garden which was done by an 85-year-old,” said Sister Leigh.
Those who wish to assist can contact 011 454 5358, email denise@eccaids.org or visit the care centre at 55 Sixth Avenue in Edenvale.
