Early stages in fight for care

Friday November 18, 2022

Published by: The Border Watch

By: Aiden Curtis

MORE choice in end of life care is on the cards as a group of likeminded people works towards getting a purpose-built hospice facility in Mount Gambier.

The idea is still in its early stages, with meetings being held between hospice advocates and Mount Gambier MP Troy Bell to explore how to make the idea a reality.

According to Mr Bell, there is a long way to go, but a hospice facility would be "vitally important" to the region.

"We've had a number of meetings in my office, bringing together interested people who want to explore the establishment of a hospice in Mount Gambier or close by," he said.

"The State Government definitely has a role to play and I'll be making sure that, once a proposal is put on the table, I'm lobbying for funds to either help the establishing of it or, more importantly, the running costs.

"The advantage I see for our hospital is it frees up beds, so there is a net benefit to having a hospice." In Home Hospice Care chair Maureen Klintberg, who has been part of the meetings with Mr Bell, told The Border Watch that the lack of a hospice facility in the Limestone Coast is "unacceptable".

"We know here that people now expect to be able to have their families with them in those final days and if they need to be in a facility, then it is in an environment that is offering that best possible end of life care," she said.

Ms Klintberg said the main obstacle at the moment is acquiring end of life data to show needs-based evidence for the region.

"To establish a hospice, you really need to come up with your needs-based evidence and your statistics about death and palliative care," she said.

"It's really hard to acquire that." Key 2 Sale principal and hospice advocate Gail Richards has also been pushing for a hospice facility in meetings with Mr Bell and wants to raise awareness of the need for one in the community.

She said hospice is not really something most people think about unless they have experienced the need for one first hand, which was true for her family until they watched their grandmother battle cancer in 2020.

"We witnessed probably the worst of being separated from a loved one during those final stages because of Covid restrictions," Ms Richards said.

"Until your family has gone through a loved one having a terminal illness, you're not aware what's needed.

"Certainly, I think the big thing is that opportunity to have a homely-type environment rather than being in a clinical environment, which would be lovely for families." Ms Richards said while the staff members at the hospital do amazing work, it was more about giving people the choice of where they wanted to be when facing the end of their lives.

"We find that a lot of patients are spending a lot of time in the hospital in their final days and that puts extra pressure on our hospital staff too," she said.

"A hospice is a home away from home for a lot of patients and to create more of a home environment for those that can't die at home.

"At the moment, you've got a room in the hospital; a hospice creates that home, there's somewhere to share a meal together with family."

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