Formation 1986 (1986) Legal status Charity | Type NGO Headquarters Hong Kong | |
Founder Gabriel O'MahoneyVincent TseYu Wing KwongLucy ChungRalph LeeJohn Russell Location G/F, 16 Ngoi Man Street, Shau Kei Wan, Hong Kong | ||
Established in 1986, the Society for the Promotion of Hospice Care (Chinese: 善寧會) is a non-profit organisation in Hong Kong promoting hospice and palliative care, providing bereavement counselling, and conducting research into and raising public awareness of end-of-life issues and care.
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The Society for the Promotion of Hospice Care (‘SPHC’) believes that everyone has the right to live with dignity at every turn of life, even towards the end of it. SPHC envisions a world in which all persons with life-limiting illnesses can have access to quality hospice and palliative care.
History
The Society for the Promotion of Hospice Care has grown from a 70-square-foot cubicle workstation in the old Ruttonjee Sanatorium to a major driving force behind the development and provision of hospice and palliative care services in Hong Kong.
In 1984, Sister Gabriel O’Mahoney of the Keswick Foundation invited Professor James Hanratty of St Joseph’s Hospice in the UK to visit Hong Kong. The visit brought together professionals, volunteers, family and friends who identified the crucial role in delivering end- of-life care.
Sister Gabriel O’Mahoney, Dr Vincent Tse, Dr Yu Wing Kwong, Lucy Chung, Reverend Ralph Lee and Reverend John Russell, articulating the need for hospice care in Hong Kong, became the founding members of the Society in 1986.
In 1988, an executive committee member of the Society, Sister Helen Kenny helped map out a holistic concept of hospice care in Hong Kong. Together with several visionaries of the hospice movement, Sister Kenny participated in the planning and construction of Bradbury Hospice – Hong Kong’s first freestanding specialist hospice. Hong Kong’s first freestanding specialist hospice, Bradbury Hospice, was established by SPHC in 1992. The first three years’ operation was entirely supported by public contributions before the hospice was transferred to the Hospital Authority in 1995. The transfer underscored the Government’s recognition of hospice care as an important component of the overall healthcare system of Hong Kong.
In 1997, SPHC opened Jessie and Thomas Tam Centre, which since then, has been providing bereavement counselling, organising support groups and running a resource centre for those who have lost their loved ones. The Centre offers free services to members of the public and its operation has been completely self-sustaining, with generous support from the public and charitable funding bodies.
In 2009 Sister Kenny was honoured with the Hong Kong Humanity Award for her selfless contribution to the hospice movement in Hong Kong.
In 2012, following a grant of land by the HKSAR Government and funding by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, SPHC commenced the construction of Jockey Club Home for Hospice located at A Kung Kok Road, Shatin. Scheduled for completion in the fourth quarter of 2015, the new hospice will be Hong Kong’s first family-oriented hospice residence, with the needs of people living with life-limiting illnesses and those of their families well-roundedly provided for.
Operation and service objectives
The guiding principle of SPHC is: “When days cannot be added to life, add life to days.” Working in collaboration with international civil society organisations advocating universal coverage of hospice and palliative care, and local and regional healthcare professionals, educators, and community organizations, SPHC works to:
Hike for Hospice
Hike for Hospice is an annual family fundraising event, first started in 1992, to raise money for the Society for the Promotion of Hospice Care in Hong Kong. Participants of all ages are invited to join in this outdoor adventure to support hospice care in the community.