Do patients have to pay?

In general, there is no fee for Victoria Hospice services; however, as determined by provincial government policy, there is a daily charge for our long term and respite care beds. In addition, some bereavement groups may have a charge to cover basic expenses. Since February 2001, the BC Palliative Care Benefits Program allows BC residents receiving palliative care services at home to receive at no cost selected medications, supplies and equipment needed for care and treatment. Check with your physician, Victoria Hospice or your Home Care Nurse for more information on this benefits program.

The Victoria Hospice Society is a not-for-profit agency with roughly 100 full and part-time staff and 400 volunteers and an annual budget of just over $7 million dollars.  We receive roughly half of our annual funding from the local health authority and half from the generous donations of the community through our Victoria Hospice and Palliative Care Foundation.