5 Jul 2022

Hospices says services may be cut due to funding shortfall

From Nine To Noon, 9:07 am on 5 July 2022
The Nelson Tasman Hospice cares for more than 155 patients at any one time.

Photo: 123RF

One of the country's largest hospices says it has cut services and may have to reduce further because of a lack of funding.

Totara Hospice in South Auckland, like most other hospices around the country, is partly government funded, but it has an annual shortfall of $5 million, which it tries to make up through its second hand shops and other fundraising.

Overall, the hospice sector has a whopping $81 million shortfall every year and a one-off amount of $3.1 million granted just over a week ago by government has been described as "a drop in the bucket".

Kathryn speaks with Tina McCafferty, Chief Executive of Totara Hospice, and Hospice NZ acting Chief Executive, Wayne Naylor.