History and Achievements

Cicely Saunders, doyenne of the modern international Hospice movement, brought the concept to South Africa during her 1979 lecture tour. In 1982, The Hospice Association of Natal was formed with Highway Hospice in Durban as its first member:

• 1982 - In this year South Coast Hospice was established in Port Shepstone, KwaZulu-Natal, by Kath Defilippi and a team of volunteers, focusing on a Home Care program. South Coast Hospice became a member of the Hospice Association of Natal. 
• 1985 - The home-based care programme was expanded to include the rural outreach programme. A training course for care workers was conducted at the Murchison hospital. 
• 1986 – 1987 - The services continued to expand as the impact of the HIV/TB pandemic took a heavy burden on clinics and hospitals. Ongoing relationships through networking, with Primary healthcare clinics and by 1989 with the purchase of the current premises, SCH cared for the highest number of patients throughout KZN. A separate bereavement team was founded to care for grieving and traumatised families. This is a well-established service which still remains in practice today and forms part of the interdisciplinary team services that are provided. 
• 1992 - First AIDS patient cared for at home. In liaison with the National Peace Accord Trust, the South Coast Hospice Trauma Support Network was established in response to the violence associated with political unrest. Volunteers from the community were trained jointly by South Coast Hospice and the National Peace Accord Trust to debrief and empower victims of violence so as to facilitate as normal a grieving process as possible. It was in this year that the number of HIV patients superseded cancer as the predominant diagnosis. 95% of our patients were infected or affected by HIV/AIDS. The South African Nursing Council (SANC) officially recognised the HPCA short course in palliative nursing. 
• 1994 - Kingfisher House, our In-patient unit was opened on the 1st November 1994. We had over 50 admissions from all sectors of the community during the first 6 months. Patients were admitted for symptom control, respite and terminal care. 
• 1996 - In response to the growing HIV/AIDS pandemic, South Coast Hospice developed the Integrated Community-Based Home Care (ICHC) model which offers people living with HIV/AIDS the option of remaining at home during their illness. This model involves close co-operation between Hospitals, Primary Health Care Clinics, Hospice and the community. The South Coast Hospice Rural Home Care model was piloted in seven other areas in South Africa under the auspices of a tender awarded to the Hospice Palliative Care Association of South Africa (HPCA) by the Department of Health, and has also been written up by them in their “Best Practice” report series. 
• 1999 - South Coast Hospice was awarded a two-year tender by the National Department of Health, to establish Port Shepstone as a pilot site for HIV/AIDS/TB/STD research. South Coast Hospice Training department opened. South Coast Hospice was included in the US Aids/Hospice professional tour of Community Hospice in New York where the Community Hospice and South Coast Hospice partnership was formed. 
• 2000 - The “Memory Box Project” was introduced through funding sourced from the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund, establishing a specialized Children’s Rural Home Care team for orphans and vulnerable children. We had a visit from the World Health Organisation (WHO). 2001 - South Coast Hospice was nominated as “Centre of Excellence” by the Foundation for Hospices in Sub-Saharan Africa. Accredited by the Hospice Palliative Care Association of South Africa (HPCA) and found to comply with clinical standards of care. 
• 2002 - Won the Impumelelo Gold award for excellence and dedication in the fields of poverty alleviation and community development. Rural Home Care was adopted by HPCA as their model for home-based care and as such, forms the core component of the HPCA mentorship programme. South Coast Hospice Training Centre officially opened, (sponsored by The Community Care Centres). The reception office was built and officially opened. The Haven of Peace sanctuary was built and donated by the Gonzalves Family. 
• 2003 - Rural Home Care has featured in a number of prominent publications, including “Home based HIV/AIDS care”, edited by Uys and Cameron; published by Oxford University Press. 
• 2004 - South Coast Hospice selected as a Centre for Palliative Learning by HPCA. As an Enhancing Care Initiative Site (ECI) (a global site of the Harvard AIDS Institute), South Coast Hospice was involved in the promotion of Rural Home Care at 12 Provincial sites via an award to the KwaZulu-Natal grant from the Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFATM). In conjunction with the University of Natal and the ECI, South Coast Hospice compiled and piloted a paediatric palliative care course at community level, which was made available to HPCA. In conjunction with Save the Children UK, South Coast Hospice developed a course for trained community caregivers incorporating Anti-Retroviral support into home-based care. This was made available to the National Department of Health. In November 2004, South Coast Hospice underwent an initial comprehensive survey by the Council of Health Services Accreditation (Cohsasa) in conjunction with HPCA. 
• 2007 - Signed a memorandum of agreement with the Murchison Hospital and started the Murchison Team in conjunction with the SCH/Murchison Hospital ARV Clinic for our HIV/Aids infected patients. 
• 2008 - Cohsasa Accreditation survey was conducted. South Coast Hospice was successfully re-accredited for a further three years. A final result of 99.46% was achieved 
• 2011 - Professor Patrice Repar from the Department of Art and Medicine at the University of New Mexico visited South Coast Hospice and incorporated a programme for caregivers on recognising their stories. “An expression of our stories through poetry, art and dance.” This was a successful project as it was valuable for both patients and staff, who were encouraged to tell their stories. To this day we value our partnership with Professor Repar. 
• 2012 - Under the leadership of CEO, Diane Van Dyk, The Soul Collage card making was incorporated in the memory box project for youth and teens. The tree of life was painted by Duncan Shoesmith, providing a quiet place for reflection, and for families to celebrate the lives of their loved ones. 
• 2013 - We celebrated the 30th Anniversary of South Coast Hospice at our Annual General meeting and Founder, Kath Defilippi, was honoured in her absence in a talk by Dr. Horsley. A very successful partnership with Murchison hospital and Department of Health was established in the MDR-TB programme with a focus on the psycho-social needs of people living with MDR-TB. 
• 2014 - In May 2014 South Coast Hospice partnered with the Department of Health and 4 primary health care clinics, (Marburg, Murchison, Margate and Gamalakhe) to assist with service delivery in the overburdened clinics to dispense ARVs and TB-MDR/TB medications to well patients as well as assist with medical examinations (Pap Smears) of women with HIV for early detection of cervical cancer. The Mobile team consisted of a professional nurse and a caregiver who provided a holistic palliative care approach to all patients seen at the Mobile Clinic and referrals were given to the interdisciplinary team for other interventions such as grants, counselling etc. The Mobile Clinic was donated by The Victor Daitz Foundation. 
• 2015 - South Coast Hospice has adapted to meet the budget constraints as donor funding decreases. Our sustainability is called to adjust to be relevant to the needs in the community which is rural and poverty stricken and to the needs of patients requiring end of life care in our In-patient unit. 
• 2016 - The In-patient unit was closed temporarily, while it underwent a revamp to provide a peaceful setting for the comfort of all patients. Our youth project was established with the community, to encourage HIV testing among youth and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. 
• 2017 - From funds received from Kheth’impilo (Global Fund), we established a Centralised Chronic Medicine Dispensing and Distribution site, ensuring that people who require treatment and chronic medications receive efficient service, as well as delivery to satellite sites in rural areas, where adherence support groups were established. 
• 2018 - South Coast Hospice celebrates our day care patients support group by refurbishing our day care lounge by funding through the African Palliative Care Association. The day care support group provides much needed occupational therapy, companionship and friendship. This is a much loved, and not to be missed, weekly gathering that has existed for the past 20 years. 
• 2019 - South Coast Hospice mourns the loss of our beloved Medical Officer, Dr Andrè Nell, a true palliative care ambassador and a champion for the disabled. Under the direction of our Medical Director, Dr Hilton Horsley, we welcomed Dr Gerald Baldrey to our team, who had past experience in African diseases as well as vast experience in the clinical care and support of children and women who have been subjected to sexual abuse. He has served many years at the rape crisis centre in Port Shepstone. PEPFAR approved funding to continue adherence support in the community for a year. 
• 2020 - The Covid pandemic struck and daily adapting was required. As an essential service, we continued to offer care and support throughout all our programmes. Our Hospice mourned the loss of Dr Baldrey and as we traversed this new ground under the excellent guidance of Dr Hilton Horsley, who despite his own private practice responsibilities, came on board to fill the gap to support our patients on their journey. 
• 2021 - While the Covid pandemic continued, the need for counselling and psycho-social support increased. Through our psycho-social counsellor and social worker, we provided support to our patients and their families who felt very alone during this time. Our In-patient unit provided a safe haven where, under guidance, family members could sit with their loved ones, which was of great comfort in those times of uncertainty. In partnership with Department of Health, South Coast Hospice used the Mobile Clinic for a Covid 19 Vaccine drive. We remember Pat Magubane with love. November 2021 we entered into an agreement with Department of Health, assisting patients to receive mental health services and support for reintegration back into society. Household members received training to support the reintegration of family members affected by mental health back into the community. Mentorship and support was provided to 3 community mental health institutions. 334 Caregivers were trained and mentored to provide mental health care and support, covering 59 topics. 
• 2022 - Mr Di Sorbo, the former Executive Director of Community Hospice New York and the Foundation of Hospices in Sub-Saharan Africa, together with our late founder Kath Defilippi, initiated the Kath Defilippi Renewable Energy Project. This project was a lifeline that provided much-needed water and energy, ensuring our sustainability into the future. We express our deepest gratitude to these extraordinary donors who have become an integral part of our South Coast Hospice Community: Anonymous friends of South Coast Hospice, Barbara Glaser, Christine Swann, David Solomon, Global Partners in Care and Community Hospice New York, Joe O’Niel MD, Lynda Porter, Mary Callaway, Michelle Mazzacco. Our founder, Kath Defilippi, sadly passed away on the 27th of December 2022. She will always be remembered with love and sincere gratitude. South Coast Hospice established the Bethania Wellness Stepdown Centre for Mental Health Patient’s reintegration back into the community. We established the GBV Project FUTHA Impilo - Blow the whistle project. 
• 2023 - South Coast Hospice celebrates its 40th AGM. The Kingfisher In-patient unit closed in December of 2023, leaving a sense of loss and placing the home based care team under pressure to attend to the patients in their homes. We mourn the loss of Alf Gore, and he will be always remembered. South Coast Hospice launched the Help Hospice Campaign, where our community has stood alongside us, and we pay tribute to Gemma Allchin for achieving a 100km swimathon in memory of her grandfather, in order to raise much needed funds for South Coast Hospice. 
• 2024 - South Coast Hospice established the Kingfisher Day Clinic, offering basic health checks and cancer screening, and we welcome Erwin and Laetitia Munch on board for understanding the need of cervical screening for women in our community. With an increase on sustainability pressure, we have moved our Hospice Charity Shop into the parking garage of the Hospice premises, and it has proven to be a huge benefit in terms of our cash flow. This has been an intense year for fundraising in a very restrictive climate funding. The withdrawal of the PEPFAR fund has made a huge impact and we look forward to the day that it will be reinstated. 2024 has proven to be a daily struggle to ensure that we can continue our services. However, we know that we are not on our own, as many hospices face the same challenges that we do, and we are extremely grateful to all those who have stood alongside us over the years. South Coast Hospice continues to provide quality care, ensuring all our staff are palliative care trained. 
• 2025 – We had a very successful Mercury Phoenix Trust project, bringing HIV education to the classrooms. The reopening of the South Coast Hospice training centre – offering training on Home Based Care and HIV counselling. We extend our most grateful thanks to IQRAA for the donation of a GWM Steed, as a replacement for the essential fundraising vehicle. Sr Irene Jacobs, a great Hospice stalwart, will be sadly missed. We are grateful for the continuation of a successful CCMDD PUP. Due to the high levels of poverty, handing out food parcels has become an essential service, and we are extremely grateful to our community who enable us to deliver this service. We are grateful to the Department of Health for the continuation of our Mental Health Stepdown Unit for the reintegration of stable patients back into their communities. 
• 2026 – The PEPFAR project has come to a successful close, with close to 7000 people being tested for HIV in our community. We had a very successful AGM, and we appreciate the participation of our community for contributing towards our success through the years.