| 101 T T Karen Phelps New hospice to meet patient needs The new facility, located at 28 Mansfield Avenue, represents a significant upgrade from the organisation’s current hospice arrangements. COMMUNITY Nurse Maude A new, purpose-built hospice facility in Christchurch is set to enhance end-oflife care for Canterbury residents when it opens in mid-2026. The Nurse Maude Hospice for Canterbury, designed by local firm Sheppard and Rout Architects, will feature private rooms with garden views for up to 11 patients, with one dedicated to paediatric care. There are also two bedrooms, a lounge and kitchen area for families. “While a hospice service is a philosophy of care, with most support being provided in people’s own homes, or by supporting care in aged care facilities, we still need a small inpatient building. This is where people with life-limiting illness will come for a short stay for expert symptom management and endof-life care,” explains Jane Rollings, service manager for hospice palliative care. The new facility, located at 28 Mansfield Avenue, represents a significant upgrade from the organisation’s current hospice arrangements. “While the quality of care is high, we occupy a refurbished dementia unit which, although functional, does fall short of the expected standard for a modern urban hospice building,” says Jane. “A key feature of the new building is a dedicated room for paediatrics. The hospice service has always provided care for children, but our current facility has not had ideal spaces. We are really looking forward to improving on this for the children and adolescents who we support.” The land in Merivale, purchased following the Christchurch earthquakes, has been used as a car park while the organisation raised funds. Construction began following a blessing ceremony performed by mana whenua Te Taumata Tapu o Ngāi Tūāhuriri on 13 January marking the official handover of the site to Cook Brothers Construction. Jane says the hospice’s design is appropriate to the needs of the patients, and sensitive to the needs of families and whānau. “Dedicated whānau spaces allow visitors comfort and the ability to stay overnight should they wish. Manaakitanga is particularly important in a hospice – looking after visitors and treating them well is essential. Ensuring that spaces are culturally appropriate to allow whānau to gather is crucial. The natural environment will also be felt throughout the building with locally designed fabrics and cultural elements.” Nurse Maude is the only charitable organisation providing both hospice and hospital-level care in Christchurch. The organisation also maintains a 75-bed care home near the hospice site at 15 Mansfield Avenue. Nurse Maude also offers unique services through its volunteer programme, including a biography service where trained volunteers document patients’ life stories as a legacy. While the project has received significant community support, Nurse Maude continues to seek additional funding to complete the facility. Those wishing to support the project can donate through the organisation’s website, at any of its hospice shops, and by contributing goods for sale or volunteering their time. Denver Glass, a strong supporter whose late wife Libby was a nurse at Nurse Maude, is pleased to be able to contribute to the new facility. “Libby loved the fact that no matter who you were, if you needed care, Nurse Maude was there for the most vulnerable in our community. Libby would be delighted that she is, through me, part of the ongoing commitment to continue providing care to those in need.” www.lewisbradford.com Lewis Bradford is proud to be providing the structural engineering expertise for this important development. Congratulations to the Nurse Maude Association and the wider project team on the excellent progress achieved to date. • Construction Project management • Construction Management • Building Surveying • Design Management PROUDLY SUPPORTING NURSE MAUDE 022 540 8225 george@wallprojects.nz www.wallprojects.nz
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