It is important to recognise, however, that patients requiring end-of-life support will be only one group of patients who will benefit from the hospice.

Many patients will be admitted to the hospice for control of a particular symptom that has not responded to treatment at home.

Often rapid relief is achieved for these patients, who will then be discharged home, often for a significant period of time.

The third group of patients to be admitted to the hospice are those whose carer requires a break. It is constant and demanding work looking after a very ill loved one, and a vital period of respite care enables the carer to catch up on rest and become generally refreshed.

Currently, residents of the Southern Highlands requiring the services of a hospice, have to travel to Camden, Berry or Canberra, and this involves significant problems associated with transport and accommodation for relatives.

These problems have long been recognised and in early discussions with medical and nursing personnel in the Sydney South West Area Health Service, the possibility of establishing a 10-bed hospice in the Southern Highlands was strongly supported.

The proposed hospice will cater for patients from not only the Wingecarribee Shire, but also from surrounding shires.

Hospices in Australia and England have found that 10 beds is the optimum size for a hospice, and this aspect of the planning for the proposed hospice has never changed, and it will still be surrounded by beautiful landscaped gardens.

It should be noted that the only trees to be removed are those recommended by professionals as requiring removal due to their age and condition.

Everyone can be assured that it is the intention of the ERF Hospice Foundation and the SHCH Board that the hospice site will be a peaceful, secluded place, well-shielded from the street and surrounding houses.

Margaret Rosenthal

Chairman of the board

Southern Highlands Community Hospice