Sphere
#35
2014
26
Philanthropy Focus
Easing the
final parting
All humanity faces the same end; not all face it with the same compassionate support. The Li Ka Shing
Foundation is taking steps to dignify and ease the passing of those suffering in Hong Kong, and is doing
so through concepts and services it has successfully introduced in Mainland China.
onations have seen hospice
centres built in 10 public
hospitals in Hong Kong, with
more than 100 healthcare
professionals and 2,700
volunteers providing holistic services
to terminal cancer patients. Medical
consultations, bereavement counselling
for patient families, home visits and
volunteering services in hospice care
are all provided. Total donations to the
programme in Hong Kong so far amount
to HKD120 million. The Li Ka Shing
Foundation (LKSF) is helping families
when they need it most.
“Dignity in death is priceless. Care and
respect for those with a terminal illness
are key indicators of our social values and
the mark of any civilised society,” Mr Li Ka-
shing said. He made his first donation to
hospice care in Mainland China in 1998 and
extended this philanthropic work to Hong
Kong in 2007. This has benefited over
163,000 terminally ill cancer patients.
Beyond physical care
The physical existence of a hospice
centre is as important as the services
it provides. Dr Leung To-wai, Chief of
Service of the Department of Clinical
Oncology in Queen Mary Hospital, sees
the extraordinary benefits the centre
brings. Multidisciplinary experts, such
as doctors, social workers, nutritionists,
physiotherapists and more, are present
in most hospitals but are rarely
concentrated to cater specifically for
terminally ill cancer patients.
“Without the hospice centre, services are
fragmented,” says Dr Leung. Now the centre
gathers talent across the hospital and offers
opportunities for all the relevant healthcare
professionals to discuss the proper
treatments for physical, social, psychological
and spiritual care for the patients.
Dr Leung stresses the warm and cosy
design of the hospice centre that has
received positive feedback from the
patients, “For terminal cancer patients,
they face more miserable days than
happy days. We want to minimise the
pressure on them from seeing doctors
in follow-up consultations.”
Ms Joe Huang Kang-pan, Assistant
Social Work Officer of the Department
of Clinical Oncology in Queen Elizabeth
Hospital, adds that the centre can be
used for different activities including
life celebrations, family gatherings,
photo shoots and more. She recalls how
depressed patients were cheered up after
joining the centre’s activities. “What we do
may be little, but it may have a big impact.
We hope patients can continue to be happy
even as their health deteriorates.”
Ms Ng Cheuk-wah, Advanced Practice
Nurse working with Dr Leung, shared one
touching story. A female patient in her 50s
hoped to witness her son’s wedding, but her
health deteriorated quickly. Both families
gathered beside the surgery room – with
modest decorations and bright clothes
for the patient – to celebrate the part of
the wedding that included the exchange
of wedding rings and the patient drinking
the tea presented by the bride, her future
daughter-in-law, signifying the bride’s
acceptance into the husband’s family. The
patient passed away peacefully the following
day and the families were able to move on,
free from the regret that the mother had
missed this landmark family event.
D
Community[Care
Home care sessions
82
,
000
Psychological counselling
55
,
000
terminally ill cancer
patients with 88%
pain control rate
Served
27
,
000
