The Province has provided more than $630,000 for improved access to palliative care on Vancouver Island, including $60,000 for the Oceanside region.

The BC Centre for Palliative Care distributed $60,000 to the Oceanside Hospice Society for improvements to five hospice spaces at Trillium Lodge in Parksville.

“It’s important for patients and their families to have access to palliative care and supports close to home and near their own community,” said Parksville-Qualicum MLA Michelle Stilwell. “These improvements will help bring peace of mind and comfort for loved ones and their families during what can be a very challenging time.” 

The funding is part of the BC Centre for Palliative Care’s overall allocation of $637,798 for hospice palliative care on Vancouver Island, which includes:

• Campbell River Hospice Society in Campbell River has received $90,000 toward four new hospice beds at Yucalta Lodge. Target completion date is March 2017.
• Comox Valley Hospice Society has received $120,000 toward two new hospice beds to support care in the community. Target completion date is March 2018.
• Cowichan Valley Hospice Society in Duncan has received $280,000 toward five new hospice beds to build capacity. Target completion date is March 2019.
• Sooke Hospice Society has received $50,000 toward two new hospice beds at Ayre Manor. Target completion date is March 2017.

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.

As well, the BC Centre for Palliative Care, in partnership with the BC Hospice Palliative Care Association, allocated $37,798 in seed grants to Vancouver Island hospice societies to support patients and families:

• Alberni Valley Hospice Society (Port Alberni): $8,000
• Campbell River Hospice Society: $3,920
• Comox Valley Hospice Society: $5,000
• Cowichan Valley Hospice Society (Duncan): $6,878
• Nanaimo Community Hospice Society: $8,000
• Pacific Rim Hospice Society (Tofino): $3,000
• Salt Spring Hospice and Bessie Dane Foundation: $3,000

Examples of seed grant projects include workshops educating the public about advance-care planning; recruiting and training volunteers to link patients with serious illness and families to the available local services; and public awareness campaigns about palliative care supports. 

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.

Learn more:

For a photo, visit: https://flic.kr/p/QfUjNx  

To learn more about supports offered by the Province for end-of-life care, visit:
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/accessing-health-care/home-community-care/care-options-and-cost/end-of-life-care

For more information on hospice palliative and end-of-life care in Island Health, visit: www.viha.ca/pal_eol/

More information on the BC Centre for Palliative Care can be found at: www.bc-cpc.ca/cpc/