TRURO – A member of the Colchester East Hants Hospice Society is receiving a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.
Executive board member Dr. David Henderson, a Bible Hill resident who is also the medical director of the Palliative Care Program with the Colchester East Hants Health Authority, received the honour during a ceremony at the International Congress on Palliative Care in Montreal earlier this month.
The medals provide a tangible way to recognize Canadians who have dedicated themselves to service to family, community and country.
Enhancing access to palliative care services has been Henderson’s goal since he began working in the field.
“Services need to be more uniformly available. There is no provincial program in place that provides access to all people in need,” Henderson said in a press release through the hospice society.
Henderson also serves as the secretary and treasurer of the Canadian Society of Palliative Care Physicians, has served on the board of directors for the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association and is a past president of the Nova Scotia Hospice Palliative Care Association.
Dr. Gerry Farrell, medical director of palliative care for Pictou County Health, had high praise for Henderson.
“David has been a strong leader on the provincial scene (and) he is leading the way forward to help improve the availability of palliative care for all Canadians,” said Farrell, adding “only 15 per cent of people in Canada have access to organized palliative care.”
