Design unveiled for Manly youth hospice
A unique youth hospice will provide young people living with incurable illness and their families a welcoming and supportive environment during end-of-life care.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro, Health Minister Brad Hazzard and Member for Manly James Griffin on Monday November 30th unveiled artist impressions of the design of Australia’s first Adolescent and Young Adult Hospice, to be built on the old Manly Hospital site.
“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,” Mr Barilaro said.
“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.”
Mr Hazzard said the hospice for 15 to 24-year-old patients will support families 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,” Mr Hazzard said.
Member for Manly James Griffin said the $19.5 million Manly Adolescent and Young Adult 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.”
The NSW Government will invest $7 million in capital, including $3.5 million in the 2020-2021 Budget, in addition to the $2 million recurrent expenditure once the hospice becomes operational. The remainder of the funds were generously donated by the community, augmenting funding from both the state and federal governments.
The Manly Adolescent and Young Adult Hospice will feature:
- Eight bedrooms for patients, each with an ensuite and outdoor balcony
- Carers lounges adjacent to four of the bedrooms
- Two family accommodation units with two bedrooms each
- On-site dedicated kitchen and dining room and laundry facilities
- Lounge room (with an outdoor balcony and harbour views), games room, media room, multisensory room and quiet rooms
- Telehealth consultation spaces and technology
Construction is due to start in 2021 and the project is on track to be completed in 2022.
Community support has been essential to the development of the Manly AYAH. Further opportunities for the community to contribute to the project will be available in the coming months.
Background
The $19.5 million Manly Adolescent and Young Adult Hospice (AYAH) will be Australia’s first dedicated service for young people with life-limiting illness. The service will be for 15 to 24-year-old patients with life-limiting illness and will offer respite care, symptom management and end of life care.
Located on the former Manly Hospital site on the North Head headland, the AYAH will provide specialised care for families, including bereavement support and counselling. The hospice will be surrounded by national parks, bushland and environmental conservation areas, providing a natural and peaceful setting for young people and their families.
The Manly AYAH development has been made possible through generous donations from the community and funding committed by the Australian and NSW Governments. This partnership will continue once the hospice’s doors open, with the NSW Government committing $2 million per year towards operating costs and supporting ongoing community fundraising.
The Manly AYAH will be available to all young people in NSW with life-limiting illness, regardless of where they are located. The service will provide specialised support for rural and regional patients and limit their need to travel long distances.
