Hon. Minister Dr Michael Falzon earlier today visited Hospice Malta and concluded an agreement for funding from the Ministry for the Family, Children’s Rights and Social Solidarity which amounts to almost €1million over the span of three years. The funding will assist NGO Hospice Malta to continue to provide two key services for its patients and their families.

The Family Psychosocial Support Service provided by Hospice Malta professionals provides patients and their families with social, emotional, psychological, spiritual support and bereavement support, as well as the Day Therapy Unit services.

The Professional Care Assistant Service then provides trained carers to support patients at their own home. The service is provided as respite to the family and also to enable the patient to remain at home for as long as possible, should that be their wish.

Dr Michael Falzon visited the Hospice Malta premises and thanked workers and volunteers for their hard work. Minister Falzon said that the Government is committed in giving financial backing to Hospice, in order to support the valuable work they do with patients and families who are going through a difficult path because of cancer and other serious conditions.

Hospice Malta Chairperson, Bernadette Bonnici Kind, thanked Minister Falzon for the Ministry’s support. “These two services are crucial in the provision of comprehensive palliative care in the community; services which target around 1300 families every year.”

Ms Bonnici Kind also discussed the progress on the new premises at St Michael Hospice, a major priority with the number of patients requiring palliative care growing year on year. “This funding will have a direct and positive impact on the lives of our patients and families. We are grateful for the continuous support from government and the EU, as well as numerous individuals, local corporations and banks.”

Founded in 1989, Hospice Malta’s primary role is to provide and promote free palliative care services to patients suffering from cancer, motor-neuron disease, end-of-life, cardiac, respiratory, renal and liver diseases.