HEALTHCARE
Improving the quality of life for cancer patients Forty years ago, cancer was a word hardly spoken aloud in the community. Patients were isolated for fear of contamination, and families were even afraid to use the same utensils. ALS began with a group of volunteer nurses to assist in getting patients home from the hospital with cancer. These patients needed a “pal,â€? someone to sit with them, read to them, or perhaps feed them. Robert Stigwood, a well-known PXVLF HQWUHSUHQHXU ĆśOP SURGXFHU DQG D Bermuda resident, provided funding for two years for a part-time nurse. Today, Bermuda’s only home cancer FDUH FKDULW\ KDV JURZQ WR LQFOXGH ĆśYH IXOO time specialised nurses, a palliative care physician, and a full-time medical social worker who all see approximately 160 patients a month. PALS supports all patients with cancer
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Health & Beauty Fall/Winter 2020/21
PALS nurses: L-R Reanna Stovell, Rosa Ward, Waynette Wilson, Kathy Fox, Merlyn Burgess
at any stage of the disease. Some of its patients complete their cancer treatment and no longer require its specialised
services; others require palliative care for pain and symptomsm experienced with end-of-life care. PALS continues to support the patient and his or her family PHGLFDOO\ HPRWLRQDOO\ DQG ĆśQDQFLDOO\ In addition to nursing support, PALS RĆľHUV GXUDEOH PHGLFDO HTXLSPHQW WR LWV patients, including such items as hospital beds, commodes, shower benches, and wheelchairs, all free of charge. PALS will assist patients (on an individual EDVLV RQFH ĆśQDQFLDOO\ VFUHHQHG WKDW require assistance with purchasing food supplements, medications, and overseas medical travel for uninsured and underinsured patients. PALS receives no government grants and relies solely on corporate and individual donations, various fundraising events and its thrift shop, to continue to support its programmes. PALS spends more than $5,000 a day on patient care, and its annual budget is approximately $2 million dollars. PALS never charges a patient or his or her family for its services. All support ĆśQDQFLDOO\ DQG WKURXJK YROXQWHHULQJ LV greatly appreciated. www.pals.bm
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