30 January 2023
Reflecting on 2022 as I sit sweltering in the Invercargill January sun brings highlights and sadness.
We welcomed some wonderful new clinical staff in 2022 as our patient numbers increased by over 20%. Katie Weatherstone and Neil Cremasco joined as new doctors, while Sharon Buick and Chris Gilkison were added to the Patient and Family Support team. Our nursing team continues to grow to meet demand and we are pleased to welcome new nursing graduates, trainee nurses and enrolled nurses.
Sad times come with the increased number of patients who have passed away. This is a time of grief and mourning for their families and for us as we get to know our patients and walk alongside them on their palliative care journey.
The End of Life Act, introduced in November 2021, has meant some people are choosing to die this way and while we don’t have their deaths in the hospice, we do recognise that some of them are our patients and that their families and whanau still need our support after the death. We willingly give this.
Our shops have been busy. The Windsor shop in Invercargill will close on February 9 and we will open Hospice Shop North Road at 113 North Road in Waikiwi. We really need more volunteers so if you are thinking about joining us please let our volunteer coordinator Jody know. You can contact her by phone at (03) 211 3081 or email her at jody.forbes@hospice.org.nz. It doesn’t have to be onerous; three or four hours a week or even a fortnight would be gratefully received.
We also need donations of both money and saleable items so please think of us as you sort through your household items. Donating financially is easy – either through our Givealittle page givealittle.co.nz/donate/org/hospicesth where you get a receipt immediately or through our website hospicesouthland.org.nz/pages/donation.
Enjoy the rest of your summer break and I look forward to seeing you throughout 2023.
