About Us
Southern
Area Hospice Services was founded in 1989 as a 6-bedded unit and has expanded
its services to meet the needs of the wider community. Southern Area Hospice
now has a 12-bed in-patient unit and serves the entire Southern Health Board
Region and the unit operates 24 hours a day throughout the year. The inpatient
unit is the heart of the hospice and has cared for many people since it’s
opening.
Southern Area Hospice Services is committed to providing a high quality of
palliative care and aims to improve the quality of life of people living with
cancer and other life-limiting illnesses, including Multiple Sclerosis and
Motor Neurone Disease, whilst at the same time supporting their families and
carers.
Southern Area Hospice provides the service across the Southern Health Board,
which includes Newry & Mourne, Craigavon, Banbridge, Portadown, Armagh
and Dungannon. With a fundraising target of £2 million for 2009, SAHS
need to raise £200 every single hour to help people affected by terminal
illness in Southern Board Area.
All services are provided free of charge to patients and their families and
include:
• 12-bedded in-patient unit providing essential dignity and privacy
to patients
• Out-patients clinics at Craigavon and South Tyrone Hospitals and St.
Johns House, Newry. The Out-patients provide a pro-active medical service
providing follow up review after discharge, managing difficult symptoms and
hopefully preventing re-admission by early intervention.
• Home-care visits allow the Southern Area Hospice to respect the wishes
of our patients by giving them the choice in relation to the location of their
care.
• Day-Hospice unit provide respite for their families and carers as
well as providing complimentary therapies and an important social interaction
for patients.
• Complimentary therapies including physiotherapy, reflexology, hand
massage and relaxation techniques are provided both for inpatients and day-care
patients.
• Social Workers provide both emotional and practical support to the
patient and families, providing advice on benefit entitlements, securing care
packages for patients after discharge, patient and family counselling.
• Bereavement Counselling to families and carers
• Our Chaplaincy Service provides spiritual support and counselling
to the patient and families.
• Patient Help line
• The Donaldson Centre provides advice and support to patients and their
families at early stages of diagnosis of a terminal illness.
