Open day for new hospice

Open day for new hospice

Mercy Hospice Auckland is holding an open day to thank the people of Auckland for making their new $6.6 million building in College Hill, Ponsonby, a reality.

The hospice, formerly known at St Joseph’s Mercy Hospice and located in Epsom, provides palliative care services for around 900 terminally ill patients and their families each year and hospice personnel make around 10,000 home visits annually.

The open day on Sunday, 14 January (12-6pm) has been planned so people can view the hospice before patients move in and so avoid disruption to terminally ill patients. The new purpose-built hospice will start functioning on 22 January with a 15-bed specialist St Joseph’s Unit which will be the largest in Auckland. There will be improved facilities for visitors and staff as well as multi-use facilities for health professionals and the public.

The 1950s building on College Hill, Ponsonby was donated to the hospice by the Sisters of Mercy, with $2 million donated by ASB Community Trust, $500,000 from the Lion Foundation, $200,000 from the Portage Trust, $150,000 from the Carr Endowment Trust, $75,000 from the Sir Ernest Davis Trust and $50,000 from the Lou and Iris Fisher Trust. The remainder of the funds has been raised from the community with many trusts and individuals contributing towards equipment and landscaping.

The reburbishment of the building has been completed on time and within budget by Fletcher Interiors. Each hospice room has its own ensuite and view and the hospice will have an aromatic garden which patients and their families will be able to enjoy.

“The open day is an opportunity to introduce the new hospice to the people of Auckland City and to show our appreciation to all of those who have contributed,” Mercy Hospice Auckland CEO Jan Nichols says. “We are thrilled with the new premises and our staff and patients are looking forward to the move.”

Mercy Hospice Auckland services are free of charge for the 420,000 residents in the Auckland District Health Board’s area but the hospice must raise
$2 million each year for operating costs from the community.

ENDS

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