Nelson Tasman Hospice provides free specialist palliative care services for people of all ages with all life-limiting illnesses, supporting them, their whānau, through illness, death, and bereavement. Our care is available throughout the Nelson Tasman region and is provided in the home, in aged-care facilities, in hospitals, and in our purpose-built Specialist Palliative Care in-patient unit (SPCU). It is important to note, that as our services are provided throughout a terminal illness, including death and bereavement, our care and support can range from days, weeks, months, or sometimes a year/s.

Employing a team of around 60 clinical colleagues, Nelson Tasman Hospice provides care for around 240 people each month with life-limiting illnesses supporting them and their whānau. This interdisciplinary team includes Doctors, Registered Nurses and Allied Health professionals including Clinical Psychology, Psychotherapy, Social Work, Physiotherapy, Pastoral Care and Bereavement support and business support colleagues. As part of the service, Nelson Tasman Hospice provides free specialist equipment into the homes of hospice patients, when needed, to support them and their carer/s.

We also have a Palliative Care Education service where educators offer a wide range of education for health professionals, community health workers, carer/s and groups increasing their knowledge on palliative care for the benefit of our community.

Nelson Tasman Hospice is a Charitable Trust whose work touches many individuals, whānau and organizations throughout the Nelson Tasman community. In a rural context this care is provided in collaboration with District Nurses. The Nelson Tasman Hospice team works collaboratively with these teams and their patients providing clinical oversight, direct specialist care, specialist equipment in homes and professional development.

How are we funded?

Nelson Tasman Hospice’s services are free to patients and are funded to approximately 52% of their operational costs, by Te Whatu Ora Nelson Marlborough leaving around $3.5M a year (or around $9,600 a day) to be raised from our community.

Bridging the annual funding gap to ensure our services can remain free requires a range of activities including revenue from our four hospice shops, gifts in wills, community grants, sponsorship, events, and individual donations.

Each dollar raised in our community stays in our community and supports our community when they are at their most vulnerable. We could not continue to provide free hospice services throughout our region without the generosity and support of the community that we care for.

How can people support Nelson Tasman Hospice? 

• Donate – funds or goods
• Organise a fundraiser
• Business Sponsorship – Partner with Nelson Tasman Hospice
• Days of Care – supports a person who needs specialist palliative care for a day either in our Specialist Palliative Care Unit or within the community
• Wish list – Donate specific items from the Wish List
• Leaving a gift in will