IT’S all systems go for this year’s Munster Express/Hartley People 10K Fun Run which takes place in just over two weeks time.
While participants can of course walk or run for a charity of their choice, the main beneficiary of this popular event each year is Waterford Hospice.
In February, the Board of Waterford Hospice welcomed the announcement of approval to appoint the design team for a 20 bed Palliative Care Unit at Waterford Regional Hospital (WRH).
This was the first step in the construction of the new building, which has an estimated completion date of 2016.
Waterford Hospice marked its 25th anniversary this summer with a gala banquet at the Woodlands Hotel in June.
The first recorded meeting of Waterford Hospice took place in the home of Dr Chantelle McNamara on May 16th 1988 with total funds available of £2,500.
By September 1988 the committee had accumulated almost £15,000.
Denise Hughes, a public health nurse with the South Eastern Health Board was appointed as the first nurse for Waterford Hospice.
In 1989, on taking up her appointment, Nurse Hughes was allocated an office in the physiotherapy block in Ardkeen and was entirely on her own with no back-up.
Initially she worked a five day week from 9am -5pm and her area extended to a radius of 15-20 miles of the hospital.
She had to win the support of GP’s and other health professionals, not to mention winning the respect of the general public.
Within a short few weeks she had 13 patients on her books and Waterford Hospice Homecare Service was up and running.
