Hospice East Rand provides services to entire Ekurhuleni

Hospice East Rand is reminding families and patients with life-limiting illnesses that they are not alone in this journey, by offering palliative care to them.

“Palliative care is the active, total care of patients whose disease is no longer responsive to curative treatment,” said Jonquil Siepman, marketing and media liaison for Hospice East Rand.

“South African Hospice programmes provide palliative care for patients with advanced, progressive diseases, such as cancer and HIV/Aids.

“Control of pain and other symptoms, psychological, social and spiritual concerns are paramount. The goal of palliative care is the achievement of the best quality of life for patients and their families,” she said.

“Our focus is on home-based care which extends into the bereavement period. When a patient is diagnosed with a life-limiting illness, is aware of the diagnosis, and both the patient and their family are seeking help they can contact Hospice East Rand.”

Hospice East Rand’s intake officer, Sr Lethiwe Mgudlwa, will provide one with a medical report form to be filled in by the referring doctor.

This form can also be downloaded from the Hospice East Rand website (www.hospiceeastrand.co.za).

“This form is a legal document providing details of the diagnosis, any treatment given to date as well as the current health status of the patient.”

She said once completed, the form must either be emailed to intake@hospiceeastrand.co.za or dropped off at Hospice East Rand reception, located at 218 Kemston Avenue, Benoni.

“When Hospice East Rand has received the completed form it will be evaluated to ensure the patient fits the criteria, and then the registration process will begin.

“Mgudlwa will make contact with you for any outstanding information as well as to assign a palliative care nursing sister to do a home-based assessment.”

For more information please contact Hospice East Rand on 011 422 1531.