End-of-life hospice sought in Grand Falls-Windsor

People in central Newfoundland are raising money to build an end-of-life hospicewhich, if approved, would be the first of its kind in the province.

Dr. Jeff Cole with Central Health is one of the people leading the effort that would see the palliativecare facility operated independently in Grand Falls-Windsor.

Cole said it would be free for users, and wouldn't be operated by the central health authority.

"It would be an entity onto itself and the way hospices generally work, they would probably work with linkages with the regular health care system," Cole said.

"Usually they would have a core staff of people that would oversee the general running of the hospice," he said.

According to Cole,two-thirds to three-quarters of the staff would be volunteers.

Cole said a local business person has donated land and the group isfundraising to finance the project.

It would make sense for government to help out with a basic operating grant, Cole said, because it could take some pressure off the regular health care system.

The group hopes to discuss the project with government in the next couple of months.