On Friday 7th August, WA Health Minister Roger Cook announced the State’s plans to build Western Australia’s first children’s hospice to provide care and support for children with life-limiting conditions and their families.
The hospice will be delivered in partnership with Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation and the Child and Adolescent Health Service and will provide specialist respite and palliative care for children aged up to 18 years throughout WA. It is set to be located in a beautiful beachfront setting in Swanbourne.
Hannah’s House Board together with our founding directors Martin and Jacky, are very pleased to hear this announcement. As you know, we have long advocated for this outcome for the children and families of WA and believe this facility is a vital part of families receiving the choice and quality of care they deserve for their children.
This announcement is the fulfilment of the vision Martin and Jacky have held for other families since the loss of their daughter Hannah in 2010, following her journey living with a rare and life-limiting genetic condition. Hannah, like many children with complex needs in WA, was cared for at home 24/7, with episodic visits to hospital and occasional out of home respite.
A hospice will now provide families with far more choice in care options and will complete the paediatric palliative landscape of having a world-class children’s hospital, hospice and a dedicated in-home and community service offered by Hannah’s House.
Over the coming years as the hospice is built, Hannah’s House will continue with ‘business as usual’, providing care, comfort and joy to the children and families we support. Our in-home health and support services will continue to include transitioning children home from hospital following diagnosis, offering planned and emergency respite care, NDIS-funded supports, Playtime and a range of new opportunities we look forward to introducing.
Our passion is to support quality of life for children with complex needs and life-limiting conditions and their families, ensuring they receive holistic care that supports their physical, emotional and social wellbeing at home and in the community. We look forward to remaining a trusted family partner and delivering services and support that complement our wonderful children’s hospital and new children’s hospice.
It is exciting news and we welcome this new chapter in the journey of all families living in WA with children who have life-limiting conditions and complex needs.
Congratulations to the Board and staff of Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation for their great work in leading this project.
Anne McCormack
Board Chair, Hannah’s House
