The design for the new youth hospice that is part of the Manly Hospital Master Plan has been unveiled.
The hospice will provide young people with terminal illness a supportive environment to be with their family during end-of-life care.
NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro, NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard and Member for Manly James Griffin, unveiled artist impressions of the design of the Adolescent and Young Adult Hospice, to be built on the old Manly Hospital site.
Similar to the well-known Bear Cottage nearby, which provides respite and care for children under 18-years-old diagnosed with life-limiting illness, the youth hospice will cater to 15 — 24-year-old patients.
It is the first hospice of its kind in Australia, providing support and respite care to young adults and their families.
“The hospice will be surrounded by bushland and overlooking Sydney Harbour, providing a peaceful setting for young people and their families during extremely difficult times.
“The centre will provide teenagers and young adults with short-term respite care and specialised palliative care, as well as bereavement support and counselling for their families, seven days a week,” said Deputy Premier Barilaro.
NSW Minister Brad Hazzard said the hospice will support families from across NSW during the most challenging of circumstances.
“As these young people and their families face the unimaginable, providing appropriate end-of-life care is so important for their physical and emotional wellbeing,” said Minister Hazzard.
Member for Manly James Griffin said the hospice has been designed with privacy, respite and recreation at its core.
“The community’s support has been essential to this project and there will be opportunities for the community to contribute to the project in the coming months.
“The facility will work closely with Bear Cottage, Manly’s renowned children’s hospice that is also unique to NSW, to assist families caring for young people as they become adults,” said Mr Griffin.
Of the $19.5m being invested in the hospice, the NSW Government is contributing $7m in capital, as well as $2m recurrent expenditure once the hospice becomes operational.
The remainder of the funds were generously donated by the Federal Government and community, including a significant donation of $5m from Manly philanthropists Mr Greg Poche and Mrs Kay van Norton Poche.
The design of the Manly Adolescent and Young Adult Hospice features:
- Eight bedrooms, each with an ensuite and balcony
- Carers lounges adjacent to four of the bedrooms
- Two family accommodation units with two bedrooms each
- On-site dedicated kitchen, dining room and laundry facilities
- Lounge room, games room, media room, multisensory room and quiet room
- Telehealth consultation spaces
Complete plans for the layout of the hospice are available to view in a PDF released by NSW Health. Construction of the building is scheduled to begin in 2021 with completion due in 2022.
Images: NSW Government
