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 Services now has a 12-bed in-patient unit and
serves the entire Southern Health Board Region. The
Unit operates 24 hours a day throughout the year and
is able to care for 12 patients at any one time. The
inpatient unit is the heart of the hospice and has cared
for thousands of people since opening.
In November 2005 the Southern Area Hospice Services
was pleased to announce that it had just completed a
major refurbishment of its in-patients unit. These renovations
were a necessary requirement to ensure that the hospice
complied with DDA regulations. The refurbishment of
shower and toilet facilities as well as the redecoration
of family/relatives rooms. This is the first time since
the hospice opened in 1989 that the inpatient unit has
undergone such an extensive programme of renovation.
Mrs Carmel Campbell, Nursing Director commented on the
refurbishment stating:
“The philosophy of Hospice Care acknowledges
that each patient, their families and carers have individual
and unique needs. Our new improved facilities will allow
us to meet those needs and provide the level of care
most appropriate to the patients circumstances”.
Mrs Campbell Continued:
“Our refurbished inpatient accommodation, family
rooms, nurse stations, clinical rooms, patient shower
and toilet facilities, all contribute to a better ‘quality
of care’ for our patients. We are delighted with
our new inpatient unit look and on behalf of the Southern
Area Hospice Services I would like to thank everyone
in this renovation project”.
In June 2006 the refurbishment project for the main
entrance and reception was completed with great success.
The refurbishment project would not have been possible
without grant funding received from Peace II monies
as distributed by the Newry & Mourne Local Strategy
Partnership. Mrs Ann Cooney, Administrative Director
at the Hospice stated:
“We are delighted with the progress of our renovations-
this new facelift will make our building much more user
friendly for patients, relatives and staff. We sometimes
forget that our building is over 40 years old and there
has been very little upgrading in the past 20 years”.
Southern Area Hospice Services is committed to providing
a high quality palliative care and aims to improve the
quality of life of people living with cancer and other
life-limiting illnesses, including MS 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 £1.9
million for 2008, 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 provide essential
dignity and privacy to their 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
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