For patients and families facing some of life’s most difficult moments, access to compassionate care can make an enormous difference.

Now, the newly elected board of Centurion Care Centre hopes to restore an important part of that support by working towards reopening its inpatient unit, which closed in 2024 because of financial constraints.

Russell-John Fagan, elected chairperson on October 14, said the board’s main priority was building a sustainable organisation to serve patients and families while strengthening community ties.

“For me, this is a tremendous opportunity and a privilege. Accepting this responsibility means being willing to serve the organisation and the people who depend on it,” he said.

The board takes over as the organisation navigates the financial challenges that led to the July 2024 closure of its inpatient care unit, which was no longer financially sustainable.

Fagan said reopening the unit remained a key goal, but achieving this would require a sustainable funding model.

“We intend to pursue funding and commercial partnerships that can support a fully functional, sustainable unit,” he said.

The board also aims to expand home-care services, which Fagan said remained vital for patients requiring support in their own homes.

However, securing funding for these services remains a challenge.

Strategic direction and board leadership

He said the board would work closely with general manager Dorothy Wye and her team, providing strategic direction, governance and support while management oversees daily operations.

Another priority is building on the work of previous board members to improve the organisation’s financial position.

Fagan acknowledged the outgoing board’s contribution over the past 12 months, particularly its efforts to address historical debt.

“We want to acknowledge the work already done while ensuring our decisions are based on a clear understanding of the organisation’s current position,” he said.

“We need to learn from established palliative care organisations, understand what works and apply those lessons appropriately to Centurion Care Centre,” he said.

Rebuilding community trust and support

Beyond funding and operations, rebuilding community trust is another priority. Fagan said residents, businesses and other organisations had an important role to play in supporting the centre as it worked towards its goals.

“Community support is the air we breathe. It lifts us as an organisation when the people around us become part of our progress and success,” he said.

He encouraged residents to contribute through volunteering, fundraising and donations, while inviting businesses and organisations to explore long-term partnerships.

Residents interested in supporting the centre can contact its management team on 012 664 6175 to discuss its needs and opportunities to contribute.

Fagan said the board wanted to create meaningful opportunities for community participation and demonstrate how contributions helped the organisation progress.

He acknowledged that rebuilding confidence would require more than promises, with transparency, effective communication and following through on commitments essential to earning trust.

“The greater the support, the stronger the trust and the better the communication, the further we can travel together,” Fagan added.

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