About Us

What is Hospice?

Hospice is a service and facility provided by qualified and caring people to ensure the best possible quality of life for those with terminal illness and their families. Skilled nurses, doctors and counsellors work together with the patient and their family to relieve pain and other distressing symptoms should they arise and support care givers in their home. North Shore Hospice provides a service to patients at home or in the In Patient Unit.

History

North Shore Hospice was formed in 1983 by the North Shore community to provide appropriate care for people in the final stages of a terminal illness. During the years of its service, North Shore Hospice has cared for many thousands of dying patients and their families/whanau both in their own homes and, since 1995, in the hospice facility.

The Hospice is funded jointly by the community through voluntary donations and a service provider contract with the Waitemata District Health Board. As all services are completely free, the North Shore Hospice is dependent on volunteers and donations, click here for more information.

A hospice palliative care service aims to relieve pain and other distressing symptoms while allowing the patient time to enjoy whatever days, weeks or months that remain. The purpose of a hospice palliative care service is to provide patients with the best quality of life possible to enable them to live until they die and to provide a bereavement support service to their families/whanau.

Patient Profile

We currently care for approximately 500 patients and their families per year with about 150 patients in their own homes at any one time.

Mostly we provide care for people dying of cancer. We also care for people with other terminal conditions such as motor neurone disease, end stage of renal failure & others.

Facilities

North Shore Hospice owns the property from which it operates. Strategically situated on the corner of Shea Terrace and Mary Poynton Crescent in Takapuna it is easily accessed from Northern motorway and is centrally located in close proximity to North Shore Hospital.

Governance

North Shore Charitable Trust is registered as a charitable entity under the Charities Act 2005. A Board of Trustees drawn from the North Shore community are responsible for the organisation.

Management

The day-to-day management and clinical services of North Shore Hospice are directed by a management team:

• Chief Executive, Mike Franklin
• Clinical Manager, Carey Fletcher
• Accountant, Julia Furness
• Fundraising Manager, Gaynor Larsen
• Volunteer Manager , Tricia Clarkson

Personnel Resources

The work of the North Shore Hospice is carried out by 101 paid staff, most of whom are part time and approx 500 unpaid voluntary workers.

With Hospice support, all personnel are encouraged to further their education in their respective professional disciplines so that we maintain a skilled and experienced team.

Finances

North Shore Hospice is substantially funded by the community through voluntary donations. Since mid -1995 an annual contract with the Ministry of Health has provided 50% of operating funding. Fundraising within the North Shore community provided the $2 million to purchase the property in Takapuna and in addition the community have provided approximately $1.8m annually to maintain the services of North Shore Hospice. Without this significant financial support the Hospice would not have been able to meet the needs of terminally ill patients and their families.

Currently the Waitemata Health Board Contract provides an average 50% of the funds needed to operate North Shore Hospice annual operational costs of $3.6m

Accountability

North Shore Hospice is accountable to a number of stakeholders:

• to individual donors, grant making organisations and the Waitemata Disctrict Health Board in terms of financial accountability
• to patients and their family/whanau for the provision of appropriate and competent hospice palliative care services
• to MInistry of Health in terms of compliance with approved standards of practice and management
• to employees and volunteers by providing a safe, supportive and stimulating work environment

Accountability is demonstrated by some of the following practices:

• The finances of North Shore Hospice are audited annually by an external auditor: BDO Spicers, Auckland
• Patients have free access to a Patient Advocate who will address issues of concern
• Three yearly HDSS survey to maintain Certification

Strategic Plan

North Shore Hospice is the specialist palliative care centre for the Waitemata District. As such it plays a significant role in teaching the skills and values of palliative medicine throughout the community. North Shore Hospice engages with primary and secondary health provides throughout the district to improved access to and delivery of care using a palliative approach to all people who are dying.