Hospice care is for patients of all ages diagnosed with a life limiting illness. The care is extended to patients suffering from various incurable diseases and is not limited to cancer and HIV / AIDS. Palliative care extends to the bereaved family and close friends of the patient.

ST BERNARD’S HOSPICE PALLIATIVE CARE is an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing problems associated with any life-threatening illness. We do this through the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification and impeccable assessment and treatment of pain. Our mission includes addressing other problems, physical, psychosocial and spiritual.

ST BERNARD’S HOSPICE PALLIATIVE CARE
- provides relief from pain and other distressing symptoms;
- affirms life and regards dying as a normal process;
- intends neither to hasten or postpone death;
- integrates the psychological and spiritual aspects of patient care;
- offers a support system to help patients live as actively as possible until death;
- offers a support system to help the family cope during the patients illness and in their own bereavement;
- uses a team approach to address the needs of patients and their families, including bereavement counselling, if indicated;
- will enhance quality of life, and may also positively influence the course of illness;
- is applicable early in the course of illness, in conjunction with other therapies that are intended to prolong life, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy, and includes those investigations needed to better understand and manage distressing clinical complications.

St Bernard’s Hospice places full priority on quality care. Care is available to all, regardless of their ability to pay our full daily costs. We request patients (or their families) to assist us to cover the cost according to their financial means. Some Medical Aids cover an allowance for Hospice services. The majority of our patients are not in a position to pay due to either exhausted Medical Aid funds or unemployment following diagnosis of illness.

We rely on fundraising initiatives and community support to enable us to provide care to those in need.

Operates in: East London, Eastern Cape
Established in: 1991

Non-Profit Organisation Number: 004-127
Public Benefit Organisation Number: 130003162
Section 21 Company Number: 91/02129/08
Trust Number:

Contact person: Cindy Kernekamp
Phone: 043 721 0051
Fax: 043 721 0051
Email:

Website: www.stbh.org.za

Physical address: 44 St Marks Road, Southernwood, East London
Postal address: P O Box 11180, Southernwood, 5213