Hospice needs help with temporary cash-crunch
Hospice, as a non-profit organisation, does not have the luxury of accessing short-term finances despite its stellar track record of its financial management.
South Coast Hospice, which has for more than 40 years cared for thousands of terminally ill residents on the South Coast – and offered support to their loved ones – faces a cash-crunch over the next few months and needs urgent support.
CEO Di Van Dyk says the organisation has managed its finances prudently as always but faces a gap in financial resources until the new financial year in April 2024. It will then be able to kick off fundraising again and secure grants for projects.
“Unfortunately, as a non-profit organisation we do not have the luxury of accessing short-term finances despite our track record of our financial management.”
Van Dyk says the organisation has temporarily closed its inpatient facility in Port Shepstone to contain costs and is focused on the continuation of palliative care services in a home setting.
She said hospice needs resources to continue that, and to continue running as an organisation. A commitment of a monthly amount will bring stability and assurance as it continues running as an organisation.
“We need to remind ourselves that South Coast Hospice, under the founder Kath Defilippi, was founded in 1983, on quality care and support given in the patient’s own home. We are on standby to supply a bed and whatever equipment is needed for quality care. The dedicated and experienced staff will honour their commitment to our patients to stand alongside them despite the challenges.”
She added that hospice is intensely aware that shutting down would mean misery and pain for the patients in its care. “For me and my team, that’s unthinkable, but unless we receive support this could now be a possibility.”
She says that the organisation has retrenched staff to contain costs, which was painful, but necessary, and has cut overheads to the bone.
Hospice, she says, become woven into the social framework of the area and the wellbeing of its people, whatever their social standing.
“We were the first palliative care organisation to support patients with HIV/Aids, spearheaded by the late Kath Defilippi.”
This was groundbreaking for its time: it provided care to all races, religions, ages, and in all locations, including remote rural areas.
As one of the first hospices in all of Africa, South Coast Hospice has become a pioneering and path-setting initiative, and part of a network of organisations and hospitals that cooperated to advance palliative care.
The organisation is also realigning its operations to meet the changing needs of the community, adding medical rehabilitation and frail-care to its existing palliative homecare.
It’s also the only organisation providing a palliative care philosophy to the mentally ill.
This goes a long way to beat the stigma with people who are different. “We will continue the chronic medicine dispensing through the distribution centre at 29 Connor Street, ensuring that our community adhere to their chronic medicines.”
Hospice is, in all respects, a remarkable organisation, with remarkable people.
“We are, thanks to our donors and fundraisers, largely self-sufficient and climate-proofed, with solar power, water-tanks and a borehole. But we must find the resources for the next few months to continue supporting those who need us. There’s simply nobody else to help them when they need it most.”
“Our plea is that if anyone has been touched by the services that hospice has provided over years please help us, help others through our hospice services.”
For more info, contact CEO, Diane Van Dyk at 082 3086300.
BANKING DETAILS
Nedbank, Branch: Port Shepstone, 139-828
South Coast Hospice Association – 1 398 023 256.
Name, ref: Help hospice, POP sent to finance@schospice.co.za.
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