Start of construction 2025 - Milestone for the first children's hospice in MV - help from the state
Plans for the first stationary children's hospice in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern are moving forward. A 7,000 square meter plot in Stralsund has been secured, the building application has been submitted, and financing through donations is underway.
"We're counting on a construction start in April 2025," said Yvonne Werner, project leader of the Kinder- und Jugendhospiz Leuchtturm e.V. in Greifswald, to the German Press Agency. "The construction will begin with the donations we have."
The association has already collected around 850,000 euros in earmarked donations for the project. Several fundraising campaigns have been held by companies and initiatives for the hospice, which is to be built in the Grünhufer Bogen in Stralsund. Donations are also being collected during the ongoing 28th Hanse Tour Sonnenschein.
Ministry shows readiness to fund
However, a large sum is still missing for the necessary equity contribution of 20% of the estimated total construction costs of approximately 9.2 million euros. There is good news from Schwerin.
"We support the establishment of a stationary children's and youth hospice in Stralsund because there is currently no such institution in our country, and the nearest children's hospices are in Hamburg and Berlin. For this important project, the state government is making available a unique million euros from the state budget to close a financing gap," said Social Minister Stefanie Drese to the German Press Agency.
The financing is to come from the state budget via so-called boost funds.
The new building will have eight patient rooms and eight rooms for accompanying family members. However, the cost of accommodating the family will not be covered by health insurance. Nor will the families have to pay. "The association will take care of that," said Werner.
The hospice is different from an adult hospice in that patients can be admitted to the Grünhufer Bogen as soon as their diagnosis is confirmed. In an adult hospice, the approach to palliative care is more significant because patients are often transferred there in their last days of life. In a children's and youth hospice, only 5% of patients die there.
7,000 children in MV with life-limiting illnesses
The difference from institutions for adults is that patients can be admitted to the Grünhufer Bogen as soon as their diagnosis is confirmed. In an adult hospice, the approach to palliative care is more significant because patients are often transferred there in their last days of life.
85% of patients in an adult hospice die there. In a children's and youth hospice, this is only 5%.
The need in the northeast is great. MV is one of the few federal states without its own stationary children's and youth hospice. Based on current nationwide studies, it is estimated that there are about 7,000 affected children and adolescents with life-limiting illnesses in MV. Of these, approximately ten percent, or 700 children and adolescents, are expected to require regular or occasional stationary care in a hospice.
Drese thanked the association and all those engaged in hospice care. "They give families strength and hope in difficult times. Their often voluntary work is invaluable."
The Minister calls for donations for the children's hospice. Every contribution helps. A membership in the association can be obtained for 10 to 30 euros per year. With a donation, existing offers of the association can also be supported.
- The proposed children's hospice in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern will be located in Stralsund, as a 7,000 square meter plot has been secured for its construction.
- The project leader, Yvonne Werner, anticipates the start of construction for the youth hospice in April 2025, with funds coming primarily from donations.
- Since the project's inception, the Kinder- und Jugendhospiz Leuchtturm e.V. has amassed around 850,000 euros through various donation campaigns.
- The Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania government is eager to fund the establishment of the children's and youth hospice in Stralsund, allocating 1 million euros from the state budget to help close a financing gap.
- The new hospice will house eight patient rooms and eight rooms for accompanying family members, with the association covering any family accommodation costs not covered by insurance or out-of-pocket expenses.
- Social Minister Stefanie Drese advocates for support of the children's hospice, emphasizing the necessity of such an institution in the region and the invaluable contributions made by hospice workers to the lives of affected families.
