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January 27, 2017 - 11:48 AM
VICTORIA - The Province has provided $90,000 for improved access to hospice palliative care in Kelowna.
The BC Centre for Palliative Care distributed $90,000 to the Central Okanagan Hospice Association toward three newly-designated hospice beds
at Brookhaven Care Centre in Kelowna. Target completion date is March 2017.
"Anyone who has helped a loved one struggle in their final days knows how important end-of-life care is," said Premier Christy Clark, MLA for Westside-Kelowna. "With our partners, we are helping to provide patients and their families with the supports they need in."
"These three newly-designated beds at Brookhaven Care Centre will complement the care being provided through the 24 community hospice beds at Central Okanagan Hospice House," said Kelowna-Lake Country MLA Norm Letnick. "Our goal is to make sure local residents and their loved ones have access to services close to home when they need it most."
"Palliative services focus on providing comfort and dignity at the end of life," said Kelowna-Mission MLA Steve Thomson. "These additional beds will help ensure that people receive the necessary, and more importantly, compassionate care at this difficult time."
The Ministry of Health and health authorities collaborated with the BC Centre for Palliative Care to determine how the funds would be allocated by studying B.C.'s palliative population data to assess characteristics such as age, underlying cause of death and geography. Current bed-to-population ratios and home-based palliative services
were also looked at, as well as projections of future demand.
"Those nearing end of life and their loved ones deserve timely, well- co-ordinated, compassionate care as close to home as possible," said Interior Health board chair John O'Fee. "Our strategy includes specialized education for staff; dedicated resources in the form of a medical director and newly created nurse specialist roles; and the
introduction of designated palliative beds, including those announced here."
The BC Centre for Palliative Care was established in 2013 by the Institute for Health System Transformation and Sustainability to support palliative and end-of-life care practices based on evidence, education and innovation to improve and support care for those living with and dying from serious illness and their families.
News from © iNFOnews, 2017