A new transport service for Hospice Malta patients was inaugurated, funded by the Voluntary Organizations Projects Scheme (VOPS) of the Maltese Council for the Voluntary Sector, in order to ensure continuous access to the Day Therapy service United.
This was inaugurated by the Minister for Inclusion and Volunteering Julia Farrugia Portelli. The project, which includes the engagement of a professional company that will provide the service, is an extension of another VOPS project successfully implemented the previous year, which involved the purchase of a new vehicle which ensures that Maltese and Gozitan citizens who need this palliative care service continue to receive it at home in a more effective way.
The total investment in the two projects amounts to approximately €37,000. This service also builds on the full package of care that Hospice Malta provides, which also includes a network of volunteer drivers who use their personal vehicles to transport patients to therapy and services. The services of Hospice Malta are various and include treatment to relieve pain, provide relief and control symptoms. They also provide psychological, emotional, social and spiritual support.
Once the patient is treated at home, the need for hospitalization is substantially reduced and thus there is less burden on the health system. It is therefore necessary that, in order to reach more patients in the comfort of their homes, the professional care team of Hospice Malta has more access to transport. This while the number of patients benefiting from the services is constantly increasing.
Last year alone, Hospice Malta made 36,000 visits to the homes of patients receiving care from them. There were 1,500 individuals taking therapy of which 900 were new cases. In a visit to the new complex of St Michael Hospice, in Santa Venera, which is at an advanced stage to be inaugurated in a few months, Minister Julia Farrugia Portelli praised the service and the work of the Hospice while which reiterated the Government’s commitment to continue to support this union.
“The Hospice association does invaluable good with patients and their families. Families who have needed their service know this very well. It is very satisfying to see projects of this kind come to life as they help to consolidate the services that this union offers,” concluded the minister.
The CEO of Hospice Malta Kenneth Delia stated that “This is help that translates directly into the service, in the first case, where with the acquisition of a new vehicle, we continue to ensure that the patients of Hospice Malta receive the much needed services by professionals in their homes. In the second case, the existing service will be extended to ensure that every patient who can benefit from the Day Therapy Unit, will be able to attend the therapy sessions. The Day Therapy Unit also serves as a form of respite for the patient’s relatives. Therefore, thanks to this help, Hospice Malta can offer more care and support where the patient and his family always remain at the centre.”
In a comment during the visit, the Chief Executive of the Maltese Council for the Voluntary Sector Mauro Pace Parascandalo, noted and emphasized the variety of projects and organizations that benefit from the Council’s funds. “Here we are seeing an important service that is being strengthened with VOPS funds, and we are pleased to see how good projects are continuously being created in all areas of the voluntary sector through these funds which are specially created for the same sector.”
More information about this and other Council initiatives from maltacvs.org. Present for this inauguration was the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry Nancy Caruana..
