Svetlana wrote:A Hospice....
‘The friends hospice really is just that: they are our friends’
By Bejay Browne
(archive article - Friday, July 25, 2008)
Hospice looks back on one year of caring
THE FRIENDS Hospice Paphos is an independent charity and has helped many patients and their families, since they took over a dedicated wing in the Evangelismos Hospital on July 25 2007.
A year down the track, it seems the independently run Hospice has gone from strength to strength.
The hospice depends solely on donations and fundraising, and most of the funds are raised through the Hospice shops. It costs about €205 a day to provide care for a patient.
The Greek language doesn’t have a word for hospice and until recently there were no hospice facilities available in Cyprus.
In its first year of operation the friends hospice has had 101 admissions – more than half of whom have been Cypriot.
Chairman of the Friends hospice, Stephen Willis spoke to the Cyprus Mail on the occasion of the anniversary.
“I would like to thank all those who have been so generous in their support this year, and all the staff who have made the hospice a place of sanctuary.
“The friends are very grateful to the Evangelismos Hospital, who made the wing available and remain staunch supporters. It’s important that people realise this isn’t just a place patients come to die – most return home.’
He continued, “Although we are within the hospital building, we are an independent hospice and part of the worldwide hospice movement. We have our own team of nurses and benefit from having extra medical help on hand.’
The hospice medical director, Dr Aristos Georgiou is a surgeon at the Evangelismos, and is an integral part of the care giving team.
“I decided to work with people who are seriously ill a number of years ago in Greece with my partner. We ran a private initiative for people who had no one to look after them, and provide them with treatment and care,” he said.
“This is a great honour to be able to help people who are in this situation, it’s a unique thing. Most doctors don’t understand this.’
Georgiou continued, “Cypriots are fearful of the hospice, but this is changing as the word spreads. It’s a learning process for the whole team as well as the public here. Before no one talked about death or cancer.”
“Many of our nurses have been specialist trained and have been around for 20-25 years. They really know their job. I am educating myself all the time, and this year I plan to join a programme for palliative care,” he said.
“We also have to learn how to deal with differing mentalities and varying religions. We must learn about the differing views of death every country or religion holds,” Georgiou stressed.
“Some people we only know for a short time and others we get to know over a period of time. We bond with these people; you have feelings you can’t ignore. We have to take this on board and leave the patient, let them go. Into the hands of God if you are a Christian or whatever the patient may believe.”
He confided, “If I have become close to a patient, I really cry and it hurts. It’s not easy.”
Many people are fearful of hospices, as they represent something unknown. These feelings are understandable, but misplaced.
The hospice team do ease the patients’ death, but just as importantly, provide palliative care and support for the families.
Elva Millers husband Keith died in the hospice a week ago.
“My husband experienced unusual complications following an operation for cancer. He actually died of a vascular stroke. He visited the hospice a few times to have his dressing redone, or to be given a unit of blood. It also provided me with some respite.”
She stressed, “the loving kindness given by all the staff was wonderful. I felt as if other people really cared about him; and they were with me working for him and willing him to get better.
“They wanted him to have a better quality of life.
“The hospice does take away the fear and they really helped me. Before my husband died, he broached the subject of his death with the children and expressed his wishes for his funeral. He is being cremated in England.’
“The friends hospice really is just that: they are our friends. It’s supported by the community, many of the volunteer staff are members of the community, and you feel as if everyone is your friend.’
Miller added, “When Keith died, the staff all hugged me and I didn’t feel as if I was on my own.”
Hospice visits often involve rehydrating the patient and administering other medicines, which will make them feel better.
This enables them to go home with an enhanced quality of life. It also gives the family a rest from what can be a 24-hour job.
The Friends Hospice has tried to create a ‘home away from home’ and all the rooms are furnished in comfort and style. There is also a quiet room, kitchen and a rooftop garden.
A new Hospice Manager has been appointed to replace Judith Pallot, who did so much for the Hospice in their first year. Ruth Marsh will now be in charge, and is known to many cancer patients, who have been treated by her, at the cancer patients support group.
Donations and funds raised are used for patient care, but occasionally, the Friends need equipment, so a fund for this purpose has been set up. People may now help with the purchase of a particular piece of equipment, such as a van.
Andy Papaiacovou, the hospice treasurer confirmed the total sum raised in the first year.
“Thanks to everyone who has helped with fundraising this year. The total income so far is €287,000,” he said. “It costs around €260,000 a year to operate the hospice, and the surplus will be carried forward.”
“The public has been wonderful and the support tremendous. It was a risk to try and start this hospice, but it has been a great success.”
A short film called One Day Someone You Love Will Need Us is being compiled, featuring interviews with patients and relatives. It will be used to raise Hospice awareness, and provide information about what a Hospice is.
Chairman Stephen Willis concluded, “Helping people and their families live with life limiting illness, is an important job, and our thanks go out to all our supporters, who have made it possible to treat so many patients in our first year.”
The Friends of the Paphos Hospice, is the only operational Hospice in Paphos. For further information and donations their website is
www.paphoshospice.orgCopyright © Cyprus Mail 2008
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