George Herald | National Hospice Week

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National Hospice Week
13:20 (GMT+2), Wed, 09 May 2012

NATIONAL NEWS - Hospice services comprise humane and compassionate care for people in the last phases of incurable disease and helping patients live their last days as alert and pain-free as possible.

Hospice care tries to manage symptoms so that a person's last days may be spent with dignity and quality, surrounded by their loved ones.

During National Hospice Week, celebrated from 6 to 13 May, hospices will raise awareness of palliative care and highlight their essential services, which are provided regardless of race, culture, age or ability to pay.

The theme for this year's Hospice Week is "Celebrating Partnerships", as the HPCA (Hospice Palliative Care Association) is celebrating 25 years of service.

Hospices rely heavily on partnerships with local and overseas funders, local government, generous corporate funders, partner and service organisations and volunteers. As the philosophy of palliative care reflects a multi-disciplinary approach, the patient's doctor and the patient's family are also considered to be partners in the care.

To find out more about Hospice events or palliative care, visit www.hpca.co.za.