Nelspruit Hospice introduces two new programmes
The organisation provides holistic treatment to terminally ill patients and recently introduced services to the public and the bereavement support group.
NELSPRUIT – The vision of this society is to provide holistic treatment to terminally ill patients. Their services are aimed at the support and tender care of patients through palliative nursing. Nelspruit Hospice was constituted in November 2005 by CEO, Mary Lebotschy.
It took the first seven months of 2006 to raise the necessary funds to train and hire a professional nurse with palliative-care knowledge, recruit and train 20 volunteers, apply for government approval, and secure office space. By August 2006 they had accomplished their goal and opened offices at 7 Rothery Street.
They started to provide home-based nursing care and volunteer support for terminally ill patients and their families. Marinda Olckers is the nursing services manager.
Since then they have raised more than R3 million, achieved a four-star hospice rating from the Hospice Palliative Care Association of South Africa, treated 400 patients and conducted regular volunteer- and staff training.
Lebotschy is very excited about the year ahead. “We have started two brand-new programmes we would like to introduce to the community. The Bereavement Support Group is an eight-week programme to help people cope with the loss of a loved one.”
Nelspruit Hospice has also introduced Services to the Public. For a reasonable fee a professional nurse will come to your home and perform basic medical procedures like blood- and blood pressure tests. A golf day takes place on March 7 at Nelspruit Golf Club. A colour run also in aid of hospice will be held on May 9.
For enquiries regarding the golf day or donations, contact Mary on 013-744-0958.
The Nelspruit Hospice also rents out medical equipment. Enquiries: 083-900-8408.
