a response to the growing needs of our society
As a commitment to offer world-class palliative care to our communities in Johannesburg and Soweto, HospiceWits strives to be innovative and comparable with global trends in the provision of care and support for our patients and their loved ones. With this in mind, we recognised “the limitations of the current infrastructure” and identified the need to relocate to new premises in order to modernise our facility and streamline our operations by the end of 2025. Our CEO has begun the search for a suitable property that we hope will be within a radius of about 10km of our current location in Houghton.
HospiceWits has spent the last 43 years providing compassionate care and support, enabling patients to live their final days in comfort and with dignity. “Plans for upgrades have begun and we are excited to announce the sale of the property in Houghton to our neighbours, the Houghton Muslim Association, said Jacqui Kaye, CEO of HospiceWits.”
“We believe that every life is sacred and should be revered, and nobody should have to live with pain and die without dignity. Families should be supported as our care is focused on both the patient and the family. The Board and Management were encouraged to go and pursue this dream as a commitment to meet the needs of our communities and to incorporate SDG goals into our new facility.”
HospiceWits has always been a pioneer and at the forefront of healthcare in our field, being the first Hospice on the African continent and in South Africa. We led partnerships with Medical Aids that enable patients to claim for their care – also aiding our business model and sustainability. We are the only Hospice to have our own Pharmacy and we feel strongly about safe and high-quality healthcare. We adhere strictly to the Cohsasa standards that strengthen and improve our health systems through standardisation, quality improvement and accreditation. We are proud to be recognised by our umbrella body, the Association of Palliative Care Centres, (APCC), as a 5-star healthcare facility.
Hospice Wits will be undergoing a rebranding to clearly announce our business strategy as well as a broader healthcare offering for our communities in Johannesburg and Soweto. We aim to unveil this in June 2024 when we celebrate our 44th year in existence.
Palliative care is a specialized approach to healthcare that focuses on improving the quality of life for individuals facing serious illnesses, regardless of their prognosis. Its primary goal is to provide relief from the symptoms and suffering associated with the illness – such as pain, nausea, and emotional distress, while addressing the psychological, social, and spiritual needs of patients and their families.
In contrast, hospice care is a specific form of palliative care designed for individuals who have a terminal illness and are nearing the end of their lives. Hospice care typically begins when curative treatments are no longer effective or desired, and it prioritizes comfort and quality of life during the patient’s remaining time. Unlike palliative care, hospice care is generally provided when the prognosis is limited to a few months or less. Both palliative care and hospice care emphasize a holistic approach to addressing the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of patients, but the key distinction lies in the stage and prognosis of the illness.
While the current provision of in-patient, home-based and day care hospice services will remain, HospiceWits will strengthen its capacity and upgrade its facilities and Research Centre. We will continue to work with local and foreign experts in the field to ensure that we remain a world-class and innovative Palliative Care Centre.
