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Description

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About Us
Waipuna Hospice cares for terminally ill patients and their families within the community Our geographical area covers Waihi Beach to Paengaroa We also provide care in the 12 bed inpatient unit Our services are provided seven days a week 24 hours a day

You will often hear the term palliative care which means alleviating without curing Hospice specialises in providing palliative care symptom control and pain management which cure is no longer an option We also offer support services to patients and their support networks whether this be family friends neighbours or staff at rest homes and hospital

Hospice staff and volunteers care for each person as an individual and take into account the persons physical emotional social and spiritual needs In addition to palliative nursing care and specialist medical support we provide respite care practical support such as meal preparation loan equipment bereavement support and a chaplaincy service

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History

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Waipuna Hospice began when a wonderful couple Pat and Jack Jenkins decided that after their death a bequest from their estate be made for the specific purpose of providing the community with a hospice service

An old villa situated at 881 Cameron Road and owned by the hospital leant itself to the ideal location for the hospice The three bedroom villa was refurbished and on the 30th of June 1989 the hospice offically opened its doors It was purely a voluntary organisation initially which took the first steps towards providing support services with volunteers working alongside cancer nurses in the community The day unit at the hospice as a dropin centre Monday to Friday

Marlene Ware a social worker at the hospital came up with the name Waipuna When talking to Hinemanu Ohia at their kaumatua meetings she found out that the hill behind the hospital was called Waipuna long before the villa was built Waipuna means spring of water or water well which endorses the hospice philosophy of affirming life The name was adopted after consulation with and approval being given by the local iwi

As far back as 1992 consideration was being given to the feasibility of 24 hour patient care The idea was to add four bedrooms to the existing building In March 1993 an application was lodged with the Lottery Grants Board for funds to reorganise the existing house into a three bed in patient unit This was turned down Later in November 1993 the management committee reaffirmed to the hospital their wish to purchase the building and adjoining land This was turned down as well

The appointment of a manager followed in 1995 and a palliative care nursing service was established in October 1996

In 1995 hospital and hospice personnel formed a working party to review Palliative care services They put forward a proposal to the CHEGovernment outlining the Palliative care needs for this area Nothing eventuated and all was lost when the group disbanded due to the restructuring process

Patient and staff numbers continued to increase as did the services Waipuna Hospice provided We outgrew the Cameron Road facilities

Due to the generosity of Veta Mary James in May 1998 Waipuna Hospice was able to move to its new location at Te Puna by the beautiful Wairoa River A year later building extensions were completed to accommodate the new community service wing

By September 2001 the six bed inpatient facility was ready for patient intake Research showed that there was a great need for 24 hour palliative care in our community The local Lions Club supported the project by raising the funds needed to furnish and equip the facility

Between 2003 and 2004 however the IPU faced uncertain times and was at risk of closing The community rallied and provided tremendous support to ensure that the hospice service which they acknowledged held an essential place would remain open and go from strength to strength

The growing and ageing population in the district and the increased complexity of patients needs led to further development of the hospice facilty Seven more Inpatient rooms extended support service offices a new training room and extended front carpark were completed in December 2006