The State's first Children's Hospice has been given a major boost with a donation of $6 million bequeathed to Cancer Council Western Australia gifted to the Perth Children's Hospital Foundation.
WA's Children's Hospice will provide palliative out-of-home respite care and support for WA children aged from birth to 18 years and their families.
The aim is to create a home-like environment where specialist care and treatment can be provided in one place via a network of healthcare professionals.
The estimated cost for construction of the hospice is $25.5 million and this donation takes the total funding secured by the Foundation for construction to more than $23 million, in a significant milestone for the project. The Foundation hopes to raise a total of $30 million for both the construction and ongoing non-clinical operational costs of the hospice.
A $4 million Lotterywest grant has previously been secured to help with the construction costs and the McGowan Government has also committed $3.2 million for project planning and an increase to the current service capacity of the WA Paediatric Palliative Care Service while also providing Crown land in Swanbourne for the project.
The Foundation will provide funding for the construction, fit out and ongoing non-operational costs of the hospice while the Child and Adolescent Health Service will be responsible for governance, management and ongoing operational clinical and support services funding.
It will have seven beds and three accommodation suites for families to stay on-site. The hospice will include facilities such as a hydrotherapy pool and therapy rooms.
As stated by Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson:
"I am so pleased WA's first Children's Hospice is one step closer, thanks to the overwhelming generosity of those in our community.
"There are 2,000 children living in Western Australia with a life-limiting illness and once open, the hospice will make a big difference to so many young people for years to come.
"When the unthinkable happens to a family, this hospice will provide a home-like environment for children to be cared for at end of life.
"I'd like to thank all those who have donated to the project so far, including the Cancer Council for this generous bequest."
As stated by Perth Children's Hospital Foundation Chairman Hon. Ian Campbell:
"The Foundation wants to thank both Cancer Council WA and the donor who so generously left this amazing legacy to support a vital project for WA's palliative care for children and families.
"The Foundation is overwhelmed by the breadth of support for this project. From Federal and State Government, corporates, individual donors and bequests, this is a project that the community at large is supporting and that's something to collectively be very proud of."
As stated by Cancer Council WA President and Chair Dr Ruth Shean:
"The establishment of Perth's first Children's Hospice is a much needed and worthy cause, so we are delighted the bequest to Cancer Council WA has not only been granted to this project, but will assist construction to begin."
