Katie Rose Hospice closure final, says board

The Sunshine Hospice Board has announced it will vacate the Doonan Hospice facility, commonly known as the Katie Rose Hospice, ahead of the sale of the property by the owner.
The Sunshine Hospice had been operating a community facility on the site since early 2011 until it closed its doors in late 2015 due to financial difficulties.
Sunshine Hospice chairman Frank Lewins said the Board received notice from the land owner that the property needed to be vacated ahead of the marketing to potential buyers.
Mr Lewins said despite the pending sale, the Doonan site would continue to hold a significant place in the history of the charity.
“During the time the hospice was operating in Doonan over 300 individuals, along with their families and loved ones, were provided with respite and end-of-life care in a supportive community environment at no cost to the families,” he said.
Dr Lewins said while this was a great outcome for the community, the site could no longer meet the needs of the charity moving forward if it was to survive as a “high quality, financially sustainable community hospice”.
Dr Lewins said the Sunshine Hospice Board will continue to move forward with plans to create a purpose-built private hospital facility to be eligible for vital Government funding, but the Doonan site was not an option for a purpose-built facility.
“Our recent assessment of the facilities currently located on the Doonan site determined they would not meet the Queensland Health standards as a private hospital facility,” he said.
“Additionally, Local Government rezoning also prevents a building to be accredited as a private hospital from being constructed on the site.”
Mr Lewins said the Sunshine Hospice Board has started a search for a site where it can construct a purpose-built facility that would service the whole Sunshine Coast and understands the changes can be difficult to accept.
“Change is difficult. For many of us who have been involved with the charity and the Doonan site for many years it is a time of mixed emotions,” he said.
“It is hard to leave the past behind, especially given the emotionally significant services provided at the Doonan site but we are working to ensure a financially sustainable community-based hospice in available on the Sunshine Coast for everyone who needs it into the future and this is a very worthwhile and positive endeavour.
“We would like to take this opportunity to thank the property owner for their support over the years and to wish them well with the sale of the property.”
Mr Lewins said a public meeting would be held in the coming weeks and confirmed the medial and operating equipment from the hospice had been stored for future use in the purpose-built facility and all funds raised by the charity will be kept in a building fund.