Hospices unite, change name

Grahamstown and Sunshine Coast Hospice have joined forces and rebranded the new combined entity as PalCare.

The move is to intended reflect the way the organisation sees its role today, as well as providing a unifying identity for the two centres.

In a statement, the organisation explained that palliative care is an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing problems associated with life-threatening illness.

“Palliative care is applicable early during illness, in conjunction with other curative therapies that are intended to prolong life, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy,” the PalCare statement explained.

“An early referral to hospice ensures that we can assist in managing symptoms that might arise from curative treatments. It also allows us to build a relationship with a patient and their family and thereby support them, medically and emotionally, during this challenging journey.“

Explaining the new name, the organisation said: “In an effort to align ourselves with palliative as well as hospice care and to unify our Grahamstown and Sunshine Coast Hospice as one organisation, we have rebranded ourselves and will now be known as PalCare.”

They were still the same organisation, however, with the same values and mission, serving the same area of Makhanda (formerly Grahamstown), Port Alfred, Kleinemonde, Kenton-on-Sea, Boknes, Cannon Rocks and

Alexandria, as well as those towns’ surrounding areas.

“Our hope with this rebrand is that our community will associate PalCare with care and support and not only end-of-life care,” the organisation said.

The new logo reflects their hands of care and the name is an abbreviated version of palliative care.

For more information visit their new website at

email office@palcare.co.za or call 046-622-9661.