Hospice East Rand is reminding families and patients with life-limiting illnesses that they are not alone in this journey, by offering palliative care to them.

“Palliative care is the active, total care of patients whose disease is no longer responsive to curative treatment,” said Jonquil Siepman, marketing and media liaison for Hospice East Rand. South African Hospice programmes provide palliative care for patients with advanced, progressive diseases such as cancer and HIV/Aids.

Control of pain and other symptoms, psychological, social and spiritual concerns are paramount. The goal of palliative care is the achievement of the best quality of life for patients and their families.

Hospice East Rand provides their service to the East Rand area which includes Bedfordview, Benoni, Boksburg, Brakpan, Daveyton, Edenvale, Germiston, Heidelberg, Kempton Park, Nigel, Springs and Vosloorus.

“Our focus is on home-based care which extends into the bereavement period. When a patient is diagnosed with a life-limiting illness, is aware of the diagnosis, and both the patient and their family are seeking help they can contact Hospice East Rand.”

Hospice East Rand’s intake officer, Sr Lethiwe Mgudlwa, will provide you with a Medical Report Form to be filled in by the referring doctor. This Medical Report Form can also be downloaded on the Hospice East Rand website (www.hospiceeastrand.co.za). This form is a legal document providing details of the diagnosis, any treatment given to date as well as the current health status of the patient.

Once completed, the Medical Report Form must either be emailed to intake@hospiceeastrand.co.za or dropped off at Hospice East Rand reception located at 218 Kemston Ave, Benoni. When Hospice East Rand has received the completed form it will be evaluated to ensure the patient fits the criteria and then the registration process will begin. Sr Lethiwe Mgudlwa will make contact with you for any outstanding information as well as to assign a palliative care nursing sister to do a home-based assessment.

For more information please contact Hospice East Rand on +27 11 422 1531.