Society for the Promotion of Hospice Care
| 善寧會 | |
 Logo of the Society for the Promotion of Hospice Care | |
| Formation | 1986 |
|---|---|
| Founder |
|
| Type | NGO |
| Legal status | Charity |
| Headquarters | Hong Kong |
| Location |
|
| Coordinates | 22°16′37″N 114°13′38″E / 22.27694°N 114.22722°ECoordinates: 22°16′37″N 114°13′38″E / 22.27694°N 114.22722°E |
Region | Hong Kong |
| Services | Hospice and palliative care |
Patron | Regina Leung Tong Ching-yee |
Honorary Presidents |
|
Chairman | Raymond Wong Siu-keung |
| Subsidiaries | Jessie & Thomas Tam Bereavement Centre |
| Website |
www |
Established in 1986, the Society for the Promotion of Hospice Care (Chinese: 善寧會) is a non-profit organisation in Hong Kong promoting hospice and palliative care,[1] providing bereavement counselling, and conducting research into and raising public awareness of end-of-life issues and care.
The Society for the Promotion of Hospice Care (‘SPHC’) believes that everyone has the right to live with dignity at every turn of life, even towards the end of it. SPHC envisions a world in which all persons with life-limiting illnesses can have access to quality hospice and palliative care.
History
The Society for the Promotion of Hospice Care has grown from a 70-square-foot cubicle workstation in the old Ruttonjee Sanatorium to a major driving force behind the development and provision of hospice and palliative care services in Hong Kong.
In 1984, Sister Gabriel O’Mahoney[2] of the Keswick Foundation[3] invited Professor James Hanratty[4] of St Joseph’s Hospice[5] in the UK to visit Hong Kong. The visit brought together professionals, volunteers, family and friends who identified the crucial role in delivering end- of-life care.
Sister Gabriel O’Mahoney, Dr Vincent Tse, Dr Yu Wing Kwong, Lucy Chung, Reverend Ralph Lee and Reverend John Russell, articulating the need for hospice care in Hong Kong, became the founding members of the Society in 1986.
In 1988, an executive committee member of the Society, Sister Helen Kenny helped map out a holistic concept of hospice care in Hong Kong. Together with several visionaries of the hospice movement, Sister Kenny participated in the planning and construction of Bradbury Hospice – Hong Kong’s first freestanding specialist hospice. Hong Kong’s first freestanding specialist hospice, Bradbury Hospice, was established by SPHC in 1992. The first three years’ operation was entirely supported by public contributions before the hospice was transferred to the Hospital Authority in 1995. The transfer underscored the Government’s recognition of hospice care as an important component of the overall healthcare system of Hong Kong.
In 1997, SPHC opened Jessie and Thomas Tam Centre, which since then, has been providing bereavement counselling, organising support groups and running a resource centre for those who have lost their loved ones. The Centre offers free services to members of the public and its operation has been completely self-sustaining, with generous support from the public and charitable funding bodies.[6]
In 2009 Sister Kenny was honoured with the Hong Kong Humanity Award for her selfless contribution to the hospice movement in Hong Kong.[7]
In 2012, following a grant of land by the HKSAR Government and funding by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, SPHC commenced the construction of Jockey Club Home for Hospice located at A Kung Kok Road, Shatin. Scheduled for completion in the fourth quarter of 2015, the new hospice will be Hong Kong’s first family-oriented hospice residence, with the needs of people living with life-limiting illnesses and those of their families well-roundedly provided for.[8]
Operation and service objectives
The guiding principle of SPHC is: “When days cannot be added to life, add life to days.” Working in collaboration with international civil society organisations advocating universal coverage of hospice and palliative care, and local and regional healthcare professionals, educators, and community organizations, SPHC works to:
- Enhance palliative care training for local healthcare workers to better meet the needs of people living with life-limiting illnesses.
- Support community members and family caregivers through their losses, grief and bereavement and help them make sense of the anticipated deaths of their loved ones and move on with their lives
- Inspire, educate and empower the public about the importance of advance care planning
- Raise public awareness of issues relating to death, dying and end-of-life care
- Provide the highest quality patient-and-family centred care to those with life-limiting illnesses, and promote excellence in the standards of care
Hike for Hospice
Hike for Hospice[9] is an annual family fundraising event, first started in 1992, to raise money for the Society for the Promotion of Hospice Care in Hong Kong. Participants of all ages are invited to join in this outdoor adventure to support hospice care in the community.
References
- ↑ Society For The Promotion Of Hospice Care
- ↑ "Obituary: Sister Mary Gabriel O'Mahoney" (PDF). Hong Kong Medical Journal. October 2006. p. 402. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
- ↑ "Home page". Keswick Foundation. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
- ↑ "Remembering James Hanratty, pioneer of hospice medicine and co-founder of Help the Hospices". eHospice. 6 March 2014. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
- ↑ "Home page". St. Joseph's Hospice. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
- ↑ "Jessie and Thomas Tam Centre". Society for the Promotion of Hospice Care. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
- ↑ "The awardee of the Second Hong Kong Humanity Award – Sister Helen Marie KENNY". Hong Kong Red Cross. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
- ↑ "Jockey Club Home for Hospice". Society for the Promotion of Hospice Care. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
- ↑ Hike for Hospice
External links
- Society for the Promotion of Hospice Care - official site
- Facebook site
- Hike for Hospice Facebook site