Founded in 1980, Victoria Hospice Society (VHS) provides end-of-life care to residents of Greater Victoria. Its mission is to improve the quality of life for people dealing with life-limiting illness, death, and bereavement. VHS runs a 17-bed inpatient unit at Royal Jubilee Hospital for respite care, pain and symptom management, and ongoing end-of-life care. It also runs a 24-7 home care program, offers bereavement and counselling services, conducts research on best practices in pain and symptom management for palliative care, and educates doctors, caregivers, and other healthcare professionals (HCPs) through training programs and workshops. 

VHS states that most of its services are free for clients. In keeping with BC government policies, there are daily charges for long-term and respite care beds in the in-patient unit at Royal Jubilee Hospital. The charity also states that some bereavement group services may include a charge to cover basic expenses. 

Victoria Hospice Society’s in-patient unit admitted 455 people in F2020. Although the majority (70%) of VHS’ registered patients have cancer, VHS also helps people with diagnoses such as ALS or other chronic, progressive diseases. Referrals to the Hospice are made by Home & Community Care Nurses who work in partnership with VHS. The Hospice accepts patients in advanced stages of progressive illnesses who usually have a prognosis of six to 12 months. The unit has nine beds for ongoing end-of-life care (average length of stay of 24 days in F2020) seven beds for pain and symptom management (average length of stay was 9 days), and one bed for respite care to give caregivers one week of rest (average length of stay was 8 days). 

The Palliative Response Team (PRT) is VHS’s home care program. Nurses, who are on-call 24-7, provide consultation and treatment to palliative patients in the comfort of their own homes, as well as counselling for patients and families. The Palliative Response Team made 1,296 home visits in F2020. Bereavement services are available to family members of registered patients as well as the general public. In F2020, the charity provided an average of 40 one-on-one counselling sessions every week. It also opened a new support and counselling centre. 

VHS’s research and education program offers two flagship courses for healthcare professionals: Palliative Care: Medical Intensive and Psychosocial Care of the Dying and Bereaved. The charity also developed several other training workshops in F2020, including Palliative Care Pharmacy and Master Class in Palliative Care. These events had a total of 1,129 participants. 

In its 2019-2024 strategic plan, VHS describes plans to find a new location for its inpatient care services and expand respite care services. It also plans to extend its home care program reach in the next five years by helping more people with pain and symptom management at home, psychosocial care at home, ambulatory clinics for palliative patients, and in-home respite care. Through a new navigation program, VHS hopes to have a single, consistent point of contact to access VHS’s patient and caregiver programs, and connect with patients and families at the time of diagnosis.

The following financial analysis represents the consolidated activities of Victoria Hospice Society and Victoria Hospice and Palliative Care Foundation. 

Victoria Hospice Society received $4.6m in donations in F2020. Government funding of $4.5m, representing amounts from Vancouver Island Health Authority, made up 48% of total revenue. Administrative costs are 8% of revenue (excluding investment income) and fundraising costs are 17% of donations. This results in total overhead spending of 26%. Per dollar donated, 74 cents go to the cause, which is within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending. 

Total funding reserves of $20.1m include $2.1m in donor-endowed funds. Excluding endowments, the charity’s reserves can cover annual program spending at the F2020 level for 2.6 years. 

This report is an update that has been sent to Victoria Hospice Society for review. Comments and edits may be forthcoming. 

Updated on June 25, 2021 by Asha McMullin.