The Nova Scotia government is investing $1 million annually to create a palliative care unit on the South Shore.
The new unit at Fisherman’s Memorial Hospital in Lunenburg will provide services such as end-of-life care, symptom management and support for patients and their families.
Currently Palliative Care Patients in the area who require hospitalization are being admitted to acute care bed’s at either Fishermen’s Memorial Hospital, South Shore Regional Hospital or Queen’s General Hospital.
In a release, Trudy Johnson, Chair of the South Shore Hospice Palliative Care Society said she is very pleased about today’s announcement.
“We look forward to working with our partners to help create a compassionate end-of-life care environment for residents of Lunenburg and Queens counties,” said Johnson.
Funding will be used for one-time costs to cover equipment and furnishings, as well as annual physician coverage and staffing needs.
There will be five rooms on the new unit and existing beds at the hospital will be transformed into a more comfortable home-like environment.
The new unit is expected to open this fall.
