THE Sunshine Hospice board has confirmed they are busy raising funds in the hope of creating a purpose-built facility for local residents.
Better known as the Katie Rose Hospice, 84 people died in the free-care community facility last financial year, and Sunshine Hospice chairman Dr Frank Lewins said the facility saved Queensland Health over $1 million.
“If we hadn’t existed, those people would have to be cared for in the public hospital and those people would have cost Queensland Health over $1 million,” he said.
While well-used, the facility relies on donations and the hard work of volunteers to operate and was forced to cease operations last year due to a lack of funding.
Member for Noosa Glen Elmes worked with the hospice board to secure emergency funding from the government, but Dr Lewins said the funds came too late and were too little.
“We had to close the doors because we didn’t get the sum of money we asked for,” Dr Lewins said.
“We asked for $300,000 to be able to stay open. The $100,000 wasn’t enough.”
Despite setbacks and a lack of funding, Dr Lewins said the board was committed to building a new facility for local residents that would qualify as a private hospital.
“Once you are credited (as a private hospital) you are eligible for government funding, and it’s that additional funding we haven’t been able to raise through our own fund-raising,” he said.
Dr Lewins said the board was also seeking partnerships with organisations and corporations to help fund and support the building and operation of the planned hospice.
“In addition to the money we raise, we need another block of money that is predictable,” Dr Lewins said.
“We need sustained funding, not just the odd bequest here and there. You can’t plan for those. They should be treated as icing on the cake when you get them, but not budget for them.”
Dr Lewins said the support of the local community was now more important than ever as the board worked to create a new facility.
Anyone who wants to help contribute to the hospice building fund, can make a donation to the organisation via www.sunshinehospice.org,au , or shop at one of the Sunshine Hospice op shops.
The local op shops is located at Shop 19, The Atrium, 91 Poinciana Avenue, Tewantin, and is in need of donations of pre-loved goods to sell and raise funds for the hospice.
