The Noosa community is being called on to help secure the future of Katie Rose Cottage Hospice, with concerns growing over the long-term sustainability of palliative care services across Queensland.
For more than 15 years, Katie Rose has provided compassionate, dignified and free end-of-life care for local residents and their families, offering a peaceful home environment during some of life’s most difficult moments.
Independent Noosa MP Sandy Bolton said the hospice had become an essential part of the community and deserved stronger support.
“Katie Rose has been there for residents and their loved ones during the most heartbreaking of times, and it is now our turn to support them,” Sandy said.
Katie Rose suspended its services before Christmas following mounting financial pressures faced by hospices throughout Queensland. Rising operational expenses, increasing rents for charity shops and declining donations since COVID have created major challenges for the sector.
As part of cost-cutting measures, Katie Rose closed its warehouse and op shop at Tewantin, while its Cooroy and Maroochydore stores remained open.
Sandy said palliative care hospices continued to operate under unsustainable funding arrangements despite playing a critical role in supporting terminally ill residents and easing pressure on hospitals. “Since 2019, we have advocated for equitable funding models for hospices that provide what terminal residents seek, as well as free up hospital beds with an economical model due to the contributions of volunteers and donations,” she said. “This should not be an ongoing plea to governments; it should be both a compassionate as well sensible approach to our very last days.”
The funding crisis has affected other Queensland services, including Brisbane-based children’s hospice Hummingbird House, which also faced significant financial challenges this year.
Sandy recently raised concerns in state parliament through a question on notice to the Minister for Health and Ambulances Services Tim Nicholls, seeking clarity on the future of Queensland Health’s Palliative and End-of-Life Care Strategy which expires in June. “This is deeply concerning for all, as well as what we have been advised is an unsustainable ratio of nurses to patients in palliative hospices versus outreach services and aged care facilities who manage palliative patients,” she said.
The campaign to rebuild Katie Rose’s future was also dealt a devastating blow with the sudden passing of respected local gerontologist Dr Drew Dwyer, who had recently joined efforts to develop a sustainable operating model for the hospice.
“Dr Dwyer’s selfless commitment was immediate to our calls, as he was passionate about aging and passing with compassion, care and love,” Sandy said.
She stated that Dr Dwyer would have wanted the community to continue fighting for the hospice’s future and encouraged professionals with experience in palliative care, hospice management and not-for-profit sustainability to come forward and assist.
Immediate financial support is also urgently needed after attempts to secure interim state government funding and fundraising efforts through a GoFundMe campaign failed to raise sufficient funds. “Katie Rose is an essential part of our community, and we cannot lose them,” she said. “In 2009, it took a village to provide this wonderful facility. Now I ask our community to come together again and ensure this incredible service where we and our families are surrounded by love and care is available into the future.”