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Mercy Hospice

Public Service, Palliative Care, Community Health

Description

MERCY HOSPICE (MH)  is the provider of specialist palliative care services for people living in Auckland City and the central Auckland area. We provide palliative care and support to patients and their whānau wherever they live, whether it be in their homes or in residential care. We also provide palliative care within our 13-bed hospice inpatient unit at College Hill Ponsonby.
 
Mercy Hospice services are partially funded by Te Whatu Ora but with significant funding being raised by the hospice fundraising team and community shops. All Mercy Hospice services are available at no cost to all people in our community with palliative care needs.
 
Mercy Hospice embraces the diversity within our community and provides a safe and welcoming service to people of all religions, ethnicity, culture and gender diversity.
 
What is Palliative Care?
Palliative or hospice care provides support for patients and whānau confronted with illness that is life-limiting. A palliative care approach aims to improve quality of life by addressing social, psychological and spiritual needs as well as physical needs such as managing pain and other distressing symptoms.
 
When is Palliative Care Helpful?
Palliative care may help at any stage of a life-limiting illness when there are significant physical, psychological or social problems. Palliative care and support is available from MH Community Teams visiting patients at home or in residential care settings and within the Mercy Hospice Inpatient Unit.
 
There is also a separate specialist palliative care team based within Auckland City Hospital who attend patients with palliative care needs within the hospital.
 
Who Provides Palliative Care when you are Living at Home or in Residential Care?
General Practitioners and the primary care team, such as District Nurses, provide palliative care for most people living at home.  In residential care facilities, their Medical Officers and Nurses provide most palliative care. However if the person's palliative care needs become more complex, then Mercy Hospice Nurses, Doctors and Allied Health Practitioners may become involved to assist the GPs or Residential Care doctors and nurses, to meet the palliative care needs.

Consultants

How do I access this service?

Referral

Patients may be referred to Mercy Hospice by their General Practitioner, Nurse Practitioner, Private Medical Specialist or Hospital Service. Referrals are currently received by emails or fax, but a more efficient on-line referral system is being developed. 

Referral Expectations

Mercy Hospice receives referrals from General Practitioners, Medical Specialists, Medical Officers / Nurse Practitioners in residential care facilities, Auckland City Hospital Ward Teams and Community Palliative Care nurses following consultation with the patient's GP.

Fees and Charges Description

Mercy Hospice services are free to people in our area that have a palliative diagnosis and require specialist palliative services. We are partially funded by Te Whatu Ora but require extensive annual fundraising efforts to continue to provide high level palliative services to the people in our area.

Hours

Mercy Hospice service includes:

  • Full 24/7 onsite nursing, medical and allied health care to people admiited into our 13 bed inpatient unit
  • Full 24/7 access by phone to nursing advice
  • Full 24/7 access by phone (Doctor Direct Line) to MH medical specialist advice ** exclusively for GPs, Medical Officers in care facilities, Nurse Practitioners, other medical specialists
  • Home visits by MH community nurses 7:00 to 22:00,  7 days a week, dependent on patient needs
  • Home visits by MH community doctors, on request of GPs or Medical Officers (Residential Care Facilities)
  • Home visits by MH allied health team, 8:00 to 17:00

Mercy Hospice Inpatient Unit Visiting Hours:

Generally visitors are welcome at Mercy Hospice during daylight hours. Close whānau have access to their family member 24/7 if there is a need and with consideration of all patients being cared for in the unit at that time. 

Procedures / Treatments

Inpatient Unit

The 13-bed hospice inpatient unit is at 61 College Hill, Ponsonby. Palliative Care is provided by a multidisciplinary team consisting of trained palliative care nurses, doctors, social workers, counsellors, kaiatawhai, Chinese liaison, spiritual liaison, occupational therapist, healthcare assistants, physiotherapist, lymphoedema specialist and volunteers. Patients are admitted for: symptom management – management of complex physical issues or acute psychosocial needs care in the last days of life – if care at home or elsewhere is no longer possible.
The 13-bed hospice inpatient unit is at 61 College Hill, Ponsonby.
 
Palliative Care is provided by a multidisciplinary team consisting of trained palliative care nurses, doctors, social workers, counsellors, kaiatawhai, Chinese liaison, spiritual liaison, occupational therapist, healthcare assistants, physiotherapist, lymphoedema specialist and volunteers. 
 
Patients are admitted for:
  • symptom management – management of complex physical issues or acute psychosocial needs
  • care in the last days of life – if care at home or elsewhere is no longer possible.
Community Palliative Care Team

The Community Palliative Care Team is multidisciplinary and consists of: 1. Trained Palliative Care Nurses providing: home visits and support for patients living at home or in residential care 24-hour phone access for advice liaison with general practitioners and other health professionals involved in the patient's care access to additional nursing support and some equipment to allow continued care at home 2. Specialist Palliative Care Doctors providing: support to Community Palliative Care Nurses, GPs, Medical Specialists and other health professionals caring for patients in the community Mercy Hospice Palliative Medicine Specialists are available 24/7 on the Doctor Direct line to discuss issues regarding current hospice patients or non-hospice patients home visits to community patients for medical assessments on the request of the patient's main health practitioner, predominately their GP or, if needs are identified by a Community Palliative Care Nurse, a visit will be arranged after consultation with the patient's GP. 3. Allied Health Team providing: Social work Counselling Maori support service (Kaiatawhai) Chinese liaison Spiritual liaison Occupational Therapy 4. Volunteers providing: transport some home visiting / support roles

The Community Palliative Care Team is multidisciplinary and consists of:

1. Trained Palliative Care Nurses providing:

  • home visits and support for patients living at home or in residential care
  • 24-hour phone access for advice 
  • liaison with general practitioners and other health professionals involved in the patient's care
  • access to additional nursing support and some equipment to allow continued care at home

2. Specialist Palliative Care Doctors providing:

  • support to Community Palliative Care Nurses, GPs, Medical Specialists and other health professionals caring for patients in the community
  • Mercy Hospice Palliative Medicine Specialists are available 24/7 on the Doctor Direct line to discuss issues regarding current hospice patients or non-hospice patients
  • home visits to community patients for medical assessments on the request of the patient's main health practitioner, predominately their GP or, if needs are identified by a Community Palliative Care Nurse, a visit will be arranged after consultation with the patient's GP.

3. Allied Health Team providing:

  • Social work 
  • Counselling
  • Maori support service (Kaiatawhai)
  • Chinese liaison 
  • Spiritual liaison
  • Occupational Therapy

4. Volunteers providing:

  • transport 
  • some home visiting / support roles
Family Support (Allied Health) Team

The Family Support Team includes Social Workers, Kaiatawhai, Counsellors, Spiritual Liaison, Chinese Liaison and Occupational Therapist, and provides for patients, family and whanau the following services: social work counselling bereavement support cultural support spiritual support Plans exist to develop further positions including Pasifika Social Worker and other specific cultural support.
The Family Support Team includes Social Workers, Kaiatawhai, Counsellors, Spiritual Liaison, Chinese Liaison and Occupational Therapist, and provides for patients, family and whanau the following services:
  • social work
  • counselling
  • bereavement support
  • cultural support
  • spiritual support

Plans exist to develop further positions including Pasifika Social Worker and other specific cultural support.

Mercy Hospice Volunteer Team

Hospice Volunteers provide extensive service in many areas including: support for patients and whānau in the In-Patient Unit, particularly managing the tea/coffee and drinks trolleys while providing friendly interaction visiting a patient at their home providing transport for patients to appointments and to the Manaaki day programmes catering for the Manaaki day programmes covering the reception desk for three hours every week day support for the Hospice itself by: - providing assistance with planning and running of fundraising events - being involved in many other events arranged by hospice for patient care and their families. volunteering at one of our seven fabulous Hospice Shops
Hospice Volunteers provide extensive service in many areas including:
  • support for patients and whānau in the In-Patient Unit, particularly managing the tea/coffee and drinks trolleys while providing friendly interaction
  • visiting a patient at their home
  • providing transport for patients to appointments and to the Manaaki day programmes
  • catering for the Manaaki day programmes
  • covering the reception desk for three hours every week day
  • support for the Hospice itself by:

 - providing assistance with planning and running of fundraising events
 - being involved in many other events arranged by hospice for patient care and their families.

  • volunteering at one of our seven fabulous Hospice Shops
Palliative Medicine Specialists (Senior Medical Officers)

Mercy Hospice Palliative Medical Specialists provide: medical care for the patients in the inpatient unit medical care for the patients in the community, by supporting the hospice nurses or GPs by phone, or directly with home visiting on request of the GP or treating doctors 24-hour, 7-day telephone support for GPs, Specialist doctors or Nurse Practitioners via Doctor Direct Line (number available on Medical Practitioners part of this site) or from MH main number (09 361 5966) consultations in a patient's home or residential care facility are at the request of a GP, NP or Specialist doctor.

Mercy Hospice Palliative Medical Specialists provide:

  • medical care for the patients in the inpatient unit
  • medical care for the patients in the community, by supporting the hospice nurses or GPs by phone, or directly with home visiting on request of the GP or treating doctors
  • 24-hour, 7-day telephone support for GPs, Specialist doctors or Nurse Practitioners via Doctor Direct Line (number available on Medical Practitioners part of this site) or from MH main number (09 361 5966)
  • consultations in a patient's home or residential care facility are at the request of a GP, NP or Specialist doctor.

Services Provided

Hospice
End of life care

Visiting Hours

  • Generally 10am to 8pm every day but depends on the needs of the patient and whānau
  • Consideration of patient rest time between 12 noon to 2pm, with close family present only
  • For the latest visitor information please visit https://mercyhospice.org.nz/about-us/keeping-your-loved-ones-safe/

Travel Directions

The hospice is at 61 College Hill, Ponsonby, half way up College Hill on the right from Victoria Park.

Motorway access is via the Nelson St off-ramp from the Southern and Northwestern Motorways and via the Fanshawe St exit from the Northern Motorway.

There is an Inner City Link bus stop at the entrance gate to Mercy Hospice.

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Public Transport

The hospice is on the LINK bus route. For a journey planner please visit the Auckland Transport site.

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Parking

On-site parking is available for families and visitors - use College Hill entrance.

Pharmacy

Mercy Hospice has experienced Clinical Pharmacists on staff working with clinicians to maintain an excellent standard of prescribing and medication management. 

We do not have a Pharmacy service that dispenses to the public.

Region

Central Auckland

Other

For information on travel directions, public transport and parking, please click here. 

Supporting the Hospice
Hospice services are partly funded by Te Whatu Ora and are provided at no cost to patients. Support and contributions from the community are always welcome.

For ways you may help please contact Mercy Hospice Volunteer Coordinator or Fundraising Team (0800 888 474).

 

Hospice Shops (Physical + Online)
There are seven MERCY HOSPICE shops at:

  • 346 Ponsonby Rd, Ponsonby
  • 453 Mt Eden Rd, Mt Eden
  • The Arcade, Pt Chevalier
  • 188 Ladies Mile, Ellerslie (Clothing/general goods and Bargain Basement)
  • 560 Blockhouse Bay Rd, Blockhouse Bay
  • 22 Stoddard Rd, Mt Roskill
  • 320 Remuera Rd, Remuera

Support of hospice shops enables “Second hand goods to be turned into first class care”.

Website

www.mercyhospice.org.nz

Contact Details

61 College Hill, Ponsonby, Auckland

Central Auckland

61 College Hill
Ponsonby
Auckland

Information about this location

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Street Address

61 College Hill
Ponsonby
Auckland

Postal Address

P O Box 47693
Ponsonby
Auckland 1144

This page was last updated at 3:59PM on February 15, 2024. This information is reviewed and edited by Mercy Hospice.