Valley Hospice Foundation to meet with province

The chair of the Valley Hospice Foundation says there may be some good news for people waiting for hospice care in the area.After15 years, the province isready to talk.

"We do have a meeting," saidDiana Patterson.

Nova Scotia's Department of Health and Wellness will release adraft policy on Friday for a framework for the development of hospicesin Nova Scotia.

Patterson saidshe has readthe draftbut won't talk about what it contains until after it's released.She saidher foundation has a meetingon Mondaywith the Nova Scotia Health Authority to discussit.

Location needed

A provincial framework for providing hospice care is a small step forward.Patterson is hopeful that, after years of waiting, a plan for where to put the facility and how it will be staffed isn'tfar off.

"I think we have to wait and see," she said."I don't know if there would beLPNsas well as RNs, therapists, doctors, I don't know."

The foundation's vision for a hospice would have eight to 10 beds in private rooms with space for family members to spend the night. It could have a common living room and a library.

Pattersonsaidshe'dliketoseeitclosetotheValleyRegionalHospital,butanexactlocationhasyettobedecided.

She saidon any given day there are as many as 10 to 15 people at the Valley Regional Hospital who would be better served in a hospice facility.

"Our money is in the bank and we're waiting for the go," she said.

$4M raised for hospice

The Valley Hospice Foundation began fundraising 15 years ago and raised $4million.

Patterson saidshe expects to discuss operational issues, such as staffing, at Monday's meeting.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health confirms it ismeeting with all the hospice societies in the province.

"At this meeting we'll have an opportunity to receive feedback from the hospice societies that will help to inform policy establishing hospice as a setting for palliative care," saidTony Kiritsis.

"We are still in a developmental stage in this work and it's still too early to discuss timelines."