Help Golden Bay Locals to Live Well Before They Leave Well

The Hospice philosophy of care is a model that provides palliative care for people of all ages facing a life-limiting condition. It is the provision of caring, dignified support and services which allows individuals to live the way they want in the time they have left. Hospice also works with families/whānau and caregivers to support the patient, while taking care of themselves.

Golden Bay Community Health (GBCH) as lead provider, in collaboration with Nelson Tasman Hospice, have 37 points of contact with Golden Bay residents, and their families, who are receiving in-home palliative care every month.

Pete Greer’s partner Kris Campbell died at their Onekaka home in December 2021. He told us about their involvement with GBCH and Nelson Tasman Hospice.

“Our experience with the local nursing staff and with the Hospice doctor was truly wonderful.  Honesty, compassion, wisdom and gentle humour are some words that spring to mind.

Nursing equipment that miraculously appeared, enough to furnish a mini ward, made caring for Kris so much easier. All came from Hospice.

We got to the stage of eagerly awaiting nurse Monika’s visits and truly appreciated the support and direction she gave us.”

Nelson Tasman Hospice services provided are free, however only 45% of operating costs are funded by Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand | Nelson Marlborough. This leaves 55%, or $3.5 million of fundraising each year. With this in mind, Pete decided to ask for donations in lieu of flowers at Kris’s funeral “Our target was to purchase a light wheelchair. Two were purchased!” These wheelchairs have been in use in Golden Bay ever since.

There is limited equipment available in the Bay, which is delivered by hospice volunteer, John Campbell, to people’s homes. The GBCH nursing team has identified some equipment that is urgently required for patients on hospice services, to supplement what is already available. This equipment includes a syringe driver (meaning that people can self-manage their pain medication, providing fast pain relief as required) and a medical transport bed (for in home care). The cost for this equipment will be circa $7,000. Any additional funds raised will go back in to supporting the funding shortfall we have for hospice services in the community. When we mentioned this need to Pete he immediately topped up the remining money in the ‘Kris Campbell Memorial Fund’ to $1000, to kickstart this fundraising in Golden Bay.

TradeZone & Waitapu Engineering have come on board with a $1000 donation and the Golden Bay Lions have also donated $2850 to the cause.

Keep an eye out on social media, and www.nelsonhospice.org.nz, over the coming weeks for stories about Golden Bay locals and their connection with Hospice.

The question now is, will you donate over the next 3 weeks to this appeal to help Golden Bay locals live well, until they leave well?

How you can donate:

– TradeZone & Waitapu Engineering will be holding a sausage sizzle at the Village Market tomorrow,  15^th of April with all proceeds going to the cause, buy a sausage & leave a donation in the bucket!

– Pop into one of the following businesses to leave your donation in one of the donation boxes

NBS Takaka
Hammer Hardware
Tākaka Hospice Shop
Golden Bay Pharmacy
TradeZone
Tinky’s Tavern – Collingwood
The Pohara General Store
The Wholemeal Café
Molly B’s
Fresh Choice

– Donate online and reference “Golden Bay” when making your donation