Cranford Hospice 'comes of age' as stand-alone charity

Cranford Hospice is a much loved Hastings landmark.

Hawke's Bay specialist palliative care service Cranford Hospice is being gifted to the local community, 35 years after it was established by Presbyterian Support East Coast (PSEC). This will be done via a new entity called the Cranford Hospice Trust.

Cranford Hospice CEO, Janice Byford-Jones says the governance, services and operations of Cranford Hospice will now be independent, but it will continue to operate as business as usual, providing sustainable and integrated specialist palliative care services for the region.

She says the gifting of the service, one of four that PSEC govern - was fully supported by Hawke's Bay District Health Board, Cranford Hospice Board and the Cranford Hospice Foundation.

"This is very much a 'coming of age' move for Cranford Hospice and brings it in line with the governance models of other hospices around the country. Presbyterian Support East Coast has done a fantastic job of building an entity to support specialist palliative care delivery across Hawke's Bay, but it's now a good time for both Cranford Hospice and Presbyterian Support East Coast to focus on their core business," she says.

Chair of Presbyterian Support East Coast, Maitland Manning adds "the consultative process has been a rigorous exercise, and all the parties involved are satisfied that for Cranford Hospice to become an independent entity is the best way forward for the Hawke's Bay community."

Ms. Byford-Jones says feedback had been sought from all staff, and after a consultation process, their response has been positive.

"I can assure staff, patients and their families that it's business as usual for Cranford Hospice," she says.

All the existing members of the Cranford Hospice board have been given the opportunity to be trustees on the board of the new Cranford Hospice Trust which will be in place on July 1.

Ms. Byford-Jones says full independence is the right move for the future of Cranford Hospice, and a timely celebration of 35 years since Cranford Hospice services commenced, partnering with the community to support people who are dying and their whānau.

"The focus will continue to be realising the shared purpose of ensuring that we provide care, specialist knowledge and empower others to provide quality whakamauru tangata (palliative care) to the people of the Hawke's Bay with aroha (compassion) and whakaute (respect)," she says.

Cranford Hospice Chair, Hayley Anderson, says Cranford Hospice is committed to continuing to provide high quality services as part of an integrated health system.
"Our dedicated team is skilled and capable and this move reflects the confidence our health partners have in our people and services," she says.

Cranford Hospice started in Hawke's Bay in August 1982 with a handful of volunteers. Today it has around 75 paid staff, 400 volunteers and every year cares for about 750 patients and their whānau.