Bielsko: St Camil's Hospice (Hospicjum Sw. Kamila)

St Camil's Hospice is based in the town of Bielsko-Biala in southern Poland. It provides home visits by a doctor, nurse and volunteers, together with loans of equipment, to those with cancer and terminal illnesses. It currently operates from a small room belonging to the local church and a small garage where equipment is stored. In addition to supporting people in their homes the hospice hopes to set up a small residential unit to provide 24 hour care. We hope that our support will help to make this a reality.

The hospice is run entirely by volunteers who visit terminally ill people in their homes and do all the little things that make such a difference. The hospice has a small stock of equipment that it lends out, such as hospital beds and mattresses, and pain management drugs and other medicines for those that cannot afford them.

The hospice has been running for over 20 years and in that time has helped over 2000 people live their final months with dignity.

We have chosen to support the hospice partly because its volunteers made a world of difference to Alina and her family, but also because it is a very small charity run entirely by volunteers so all donations go directly to support its work and are not swallowed up by administration and overheads. 

Since 2010 the Foundation has provided:

• in 2010, four oximeters, an oxygen concentrator, a suction pump and a folding rehabilitative bed;
• in 2011, two hospital beds;
• in 2012, five mattresses, lymphatic massage equipment and an electric wheelchair; 
• in 2013, equipment for washing the hair of bed bound patients and three hospital beds.;
• in 2014, equipment for washing the hair of bed-bound patients, 12 pulse-oxymeters, an oxygen concentrator and two wheelchair cushions;
• in 2015, an oxygen concentrator and pulse-oxymeter, 6 anti-bedsore mattresses and a bed;
• in 2016, an oxygen concentrator, a bed and an anti-bedsore mattress;
• in 2017, an oxygen concentrator.
• in 2018, a compression pump and two cuffs
• in 2019, three suction catheters, a hospital bed and mattress, and a bariatric commode
• in 2020, two hospital beds and an oxygen concentrator
• in 2023, two hospital beds and forty waterproof bedsheets

“The actions of the Foundation have touched and surprised us. We are really grateful for all you are doing for the hospice movement”

“We are grateful for you initiative, all your gifts to date, and the most recent gift of equipment to wash the hair of bedbound patients. In accordance with our appeal, yesterday we also received three beds for our patients. This improves the quality of life of people under our care, and makes our task of providing that care easier.”

See hospice website: http://hospicjum.sds.pl/

"We wanted to thank you sincerely on behalf of the whole team and those under our care for the beds that you have donated. Thank you for your support and we wish you much strength and enthusiasm in running your Foundation."