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What's next for Delta Hospice?

FHA to begin community consultations on Delta Hospice as two groups now offering counselling services
delta, bc hospice facility
Fraser Health took possession of the hospice facility in Ladner this year and reopened it last month.

Fraser Health says it will collaborate with the community on future Delta hospice services.

That’s according to officials with the health region responding to questions posed by the Optimist during the FHA’s online public board meeting Tuesday, about what’s next at the Irene Thomas Hospice and Harold and Veronica Savage Centre for Supportive Care, now operated by the health region

Health region president and CEO Dr. Victoria Lee said formal clinical counselling services are being offered as well as peer support counselling and family supports, but the health region will also consult with the community.

“What we’re looking at is working with our community members and engaging with our community including the municipality to see what kind of services would best serve the community at that building, because there’s the main hospice building as well as the additional (supportive care) building on that premise,” said Lee. “We’ll be engaging in community consultation to decipher what types of services are required and what would be most beneficial and then looking at who can provide those services as well.”

Lee noted different groups in the same area can provide healing and beneficial service, so there’s multiple options.

Members of the Take Back Delta Hospice group recently formed their own society called the Heron Hospice Society of Delta, stating they will also offer compassionate end-of-life programs for individuals and families experiencing grief and loss, as well as an aim to support the Irene Thomas Hospice, which is managed by the FHA.

As far as what role that new group could play, FHA board chair Jim Sinclair said “they’re one of the people we’re going to discuss it with.”

He added they will also reach out to the City of Delta, which has put forward a request to assume the lease of the supportive care centre.

“We have appreciated their support in the beginning on this and we hope, no matter how we answer that question, we’ll continue to work with them to make sure those services are there for the people of Delta,” said Sinclair.  

Heron Hospice Society of Delta president Chris Pettypiece told the Optimist his society is currently offering bereavement support services through an Online Grief Circle, using Zoom, and will expand their program offerings to include a number of other services when resources and revised public health restrictions eventually permit.

The Delta Hospice Society, meanwhile, stated it continues providing counselling and education resources for adults and children.

Nancy Pagani, director of operations for the society, told the Optimist their programs and services are active and in demand, and that a professional clinical counsellor, music therapist and social worker are available.

“The pandemic posed some challenges however, we adapted well by providing services virtually and telephonically in addition to creating new programming for children and youth," she said. “Since January we were able to begin providing in-person counselling with all the necessary COVID precautions in place and continue to do so. Our music therapist works virtually, but also during the pandemic, created several online relaxation videos, which can be seen on our website. Our Bereavement Outreach Program is run by volunteers who work with clients in the community.”

The current society board, which took control of the society after a heated annual general meeting in late 2019, was opposed to providing the legal procedure medical assistance in dying (MAiD) at the Irene Thomas Hospice, reversing a decision by the previous board to allow MAiD.

It put the DHS at odds with the province and Fraser Health, which mandated publicly funded hospices with non-religious affiliations offer the service to those who request it.

The FHA gave one-year’s notice in February 2020 that its service contract with the society would be terminated without cause.

Earlier this year, the health region gave notice it would take over operations at the hospice facility in Ladner.

The FHA then re-opened the 10 hospice bed facility and supportive care centre in mid-April.

Noting the community as well as the City of Delta expressed support for the health region’s decision, Sinclair said the board has learned from the experience, having reviewed it legal policy on contracted services and intending to make changes to avoid similar situations in the future.