Palliative care is a specialised medical care that focuses on providing relief from the symptoms, pain, and stress of a serious illness. The goal is to improve the quality of life for both the patient and the patient's family. Palliative care is provided by a team of doctors, nurses, and other specialists who work together with the patient's primary care team to provide an extra layer of support. It can be provided at any stage of a serious illness and can be given along with curative treatment.

Care received in Hospice is a continuation of palliative care services and provides the terminally ill patient with the support needed as they reach the end of their life. The goal of Hospice is to not only provide comfort to the patient but for their family as well during the end-of-life period. Hospice care is provided in a variety of settings, including the patient's home, or our In-Patient facilities. It is provided by a team of professionals and volunteers who work together to address the patient's physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. Services provided by Hospice care teams typically include pain and symptom management, emotional and spiritual support, and assistance with activities of daily living

As the preferred choice of most patients, the HospiceWits Home Care programme provides coordinated care in the comfort and familiarity of the individual’s home environment. This enables the patient and family to play an integral role within the HospiceWits team, and assists family members in coping with problems which can arise at this time. The Home Care team, coordinated by the Palliative Services Manager, works closely with the Hospice doctor, patient and loved- ones to ensure optimum care, support and comfort in meeting the unique needs of each individual. Where appropriate, HospiceWits works with the patient’s medical practitioner.

Home Care services include home visits from a Registered Nurse, support, symptom management and counselling for the patient and family. The Home Care team will ensure a continuum of care.

A tranquil, home-from-home environment for patients needing specialised palliative management of their illness.

We have an In-Patient Unit in Houghton for short-term care. Patients are admitted for symptom control, procedures such as abdominal drainage and for care when the patient’s condition makes home care difficult or no longer appropriate. We do not offer long term care of patients in the units.

The In-Patient Unit offer loved-ones peace of mind and the opportunity to spend as much quality time as possible with the patient. Arrangements for admission are made by the HospiceWits medical practitioner and home care nurse. Patients are sometimes referred directly from hospitals to our facilities.

Patients suffering from cancer, HIV/AIDS, progressive neurological illnesses, severe kidney, or heart failure, end-stage lung disease, or other life-threatening illnesses.

The holistic approach to problems associated with the illness includes physical suffering (pain, nausea, etc.), psychological suffering (fear, loneliness, etc.), social suffering (poverty, etc.), and spiritual suffering.

Palliative Care is about living as well as dying.
Palliative Care works alongside and within other programmes.
Palliative Care never says “there is nothing we can do”.
Palliative Care treats the patient, not the illness.