About Vitas House Hospice
Mission Statement
Enhancing the quality of life and dignifying its terminal stages through special care, support and service.
What is Hospice
Hospice in earlier days was a concept rooted in the centuries old idea of offering a place of shelter and rest, or "hospitality" to weary and sick travellers on a long journey. In 1976 Dame Cicely Saunders at St. Christopher's Hospice in London first applied the term "hospice" to specialized care for dying patients.
Today, at Vitas House, a free hospice for the terminally ill cancer patient, we provide palliative care, which is treatment to help relieve cancer related symptoms, but not cure the disease; its main function is to improve your quality of life.
Vitas House Hospice Ensures
*A Home away from home where the needs of the patients and family are our primary concerns.
*That the lines of communication between Medial Personnel and family are kept open to provide optimum care.
*Patient's dignity is maintained and pain management a priority.
*Where staff maintain a professional atmosphere of service, approachable and are well mannered and committed.
Upon Admission
We offer hospice care through inpatient unit. The admission policy sets out the criteria for access into its services.
Criteria for Services: Patients are admitted into the service with advanced cancer and a prognosis of six (6) months or less. All referrals are prioritized based on reviewing the complexity of problems presented.
Inpatients unit: Patients requiring system control.
Bereavement Services: Relatives are invited to access counselling through our social workers.
Payment for Care: Vitas House Hospice is free to all entrants, however voluntary contributions are welcomed.
Voluntary removal from Hospice: The patient always has the right to stop getting Hospice care for any reason.
"You matter because of who you are. You matter to the last moment of your life and we will do all we can, not only to help you die peacefully, but also to live until you die"
....Dame Cicely Saunders