BELhospice was founded in 2004 by a team led by Dr Natasa Milicevic, previously an oncologist in Serbia’s capital, Belgrade, for 25 years. It is supported by Hospices of Hope and is part of the ‘Beacon Project’ providing hospice care in south-eastern Europe.

 

BELhospice works with patients suffering from advanced malignant disease by providing holistic care to patients and their families along with specialist medical advice on pain relief and symptom control, nursing care, emotional and spiritual support.

 

Based out of a small office and training suite in Belgrade, BELhospice provide care to patients both in their own homes and also in the city’s hospitals. They also run courses for doctors and nurses in palliative care.

 

To read more about the work of BELhospice in Serbia, you can read recent newsletters here.

 

Opened in October 2006, the Education Centre was named after Prue Dufour, a pioneer of palliative care in Great Britain, who had compassion for terminally ill patients in Eastern Europe and understood their needs and the importance of pioneering palliative care in Serbia, which didn't exist at all. Following her recent death, a London Trust donated large gift in her memory as a support for BELhospice centre in Serbia.

 

These courses are designed for professionals in medical and social services as well as for volunteers, so that they can then apply it on daily basis at their place of work. The Education Centre is equipping and training professionals from all over Serbia in hospice care.