The Breede River Hospice has been serving the five towns of the Breede River/Winelands municipal area for the past 10 years. We deliver Palliative Care to patients with life threatening illnesses at the homes of our patients, at no cost.

Palliative Care, in a nutshell, is a holistic approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing life-threatening illnesses, through the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification and impeccable assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, physical, psychosocial and spiritual.

We are exceptionally proud of recently being awarded 5 star status from our umbrella organisation, HPCA (Hospice Palliative Care Organisation of South Africa). We are only one of 20 hospices who have managed to achieve this from the 202 members in the country.

Breede River Hospice, which is the only home-based palliative care organisation operative in the Breede River Winelands municipal area, serves a rural area of approximately 2 500km², with unemployment being rife.

From its humble beginnings Breede River Hospice has shown remarkable growth. It started off with two cancer patients in 1999 with an annual operational budget of R15 000, cared for by one nursing sister. Today we are caring for an average of 200 to 320 patients a month with a staff complement of 42, a volunteer base of more than 100, and an annual operational budget of R2.6 million. Our staff of 43 include a medical doctor, who recently completed her Palliative Care Diploma in Medicine, and who we are very fortunate to have on a part-time basis. The other staff of the patient care team includes social workers, a spiritual counsellor, 6 professional nurses and 18 community care-givers. Support service staff includes a general manager, a patient care manager, a fundraising coordinator, an events coordinator, an education coordinator and assistant, finance coordinator, volunteer coordinator and an office assistant. We also employ 2 charity shop managers.

Transport is an essential part of our service as it is provided in the home of the patient, whether in the Koo past Montagu, Wandsbeck or McGregor town. This allows for the prolonged comfort and extended human dignity of the patient.

We coordinate a fully accredited Centre for Palliative Learning (CPL), where training is provided to our own staff, staff from other hospices, staff from old aged homes and department of Health facilities, as well as volunteers and the greater community. This is our way of making Palliative Care known and available to everyone in the community, whilst also being a source of income for us.

Other funds are generated through special events held at least once a month, general donations from our community and service organisations such as Rotary, the Lions, Round Table and the occasional bequest and income from our food garden. Furthermore we receive corporate grants and run two charity shops. We are in the process of opening a third shop now too, which will double as storage and sorting warehouse.

Breede River Hospice is a NPO and registered in terms of Section 18A of the Income Tax Act, making all donations of R100 or more tax deductible up to 5% of your taxable income.

Hospice has an increasing need for financial assistance for running costs, medical consumables and equipment such as egg-box mattresses, as well as for alterations to our building in Paul Kruger Street, Robertson.

Breede River Hospice could not exist without the dedicated volunteer team that it has. Most of the volunteers are retired people who are passionate about the hospice philosophy and therefore have time and energy to give. Our volunteers help as Care-Givers, Bereavement Supporters, Charity Shop operators, Fund raising Event co-ordinators, Collection Tin operators, Caterers, Drivers and Office assistants.

The service rendered by the Breede River Hospice is free of charge. Please help us by supporting our two charity shops (Montagu and Robertson) and other fundraising projects.
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Should you wish to make a donation, the bank details are as follows:
Bank Name: Standard Bank
Robertson Branch Number: 050413
Cheque Account Number: 082352879

CONTACT DETAILS
Physical Address: 62 Paul Kruger Street, Robertson, 6705

Postal Address: P O Box 894, Robertson, 6705

Telephone: +27 (023) 626 5710

email:

website: www.hospicebreederiver.org.za