When community groups wrap their arms around Hospice Whanganui, the impact reaches far and wide
Recently, the Rotary Club of Whanganui North raised an incredible $30,000 to support our specialist palliative care service – funding a new bladder scanner, three syringe drivers, and contributing towards the ongoing costs of caring for patients and whānau across our rohe.
Bringing essential equipment closer to home
For many years, Hospice Whanganui relied on access to a bladder scanner from outside our region. When that access was no longer available, our team lost a key piece of equipment used to assess bladder function, support comfort, and help prevent complications for patients.
Thanks to Rotary Whanganui North’s fundraiser, Hospice Whanganui has now been able to purchase our own bladder scanner, available 24/7 for use with our patients.
Alongside the bladder scanner, Rotary’s support has funded three new syringe drivers. These small, portable pumps allow medicines to be delivered continuously under the skin, helping to manage symptoms such as pain, nausea, and breathlessness – particularly for people who wish to remain at home.
Additional support from the Whanganui Community Foundation, and a private donor has enabled Hospice Whanganui to purchase five syringe drivers in total.
With government funding covering around half of what it takes to run Hospice Whanganui each year, community fundraising like this plays a critical role in keeping our service free of charge for patients and their whānau.
A visit to Hospice Whanganui
On Tuesday 14 October, representatives from Rotary Whanganui North visited Hospice Whanganui for an official handover and afternoon tea.
Club President Murray Cleveland, Director Graeme Prince, Secretary Sue Gardner, and project lead Tony Hodge met with members of our team to see the syringe drivers in person and hear first-hand how they will be used in patient care.
“It’s a huge relief for us to know that we now have enough syringe drivers to meet the needs of our service, and a bladder scanner that we can access 24/7,” says Helen Leslie, Chief Executive of Hospice Whanganui.
“Rotary Whanganui North has not only funded vital equipment, but also helped cover the everyday costs that sit behind specialist palliative care. We are deeply grateful – this support will touch the lives of many patients and whānau in our community.”
Walking alongside whānau – together
Hospice Whanganui is a patient- and whānau-led service. Guided by Te Hau Awe, our integrated team of nurses, health care assistants, doctors, social workers, kaiāwhina, and chaplains walk alongside people in the last chapter of life – wherever they wish to be cared for.
Partnerships like this one with Rotary Whanganui North, and the many individuals and organisations who contributed to the fundraising campaign, help ensure we can keep providing this care free of charge to anyone who needs it in our community.
To everyone involved in this project – thank you for your aroha, your energy, and your commitment to hospice care in Whanganui.
If you’d like to learn more about supporting Hospice Whanganui, please visit our Donate page or contact our team on 06 349 0080.