How has the money raised through the urgent appeal helped?
It has been an extraordinary year. At the start of the pandemic, we increased our capacity to support the NHS and throughout the year we have continually updated and adapted our services so we can safely support as many people possible.
The Inpatient Unit has remained open throughout the pandemic to people needing symptom control and end of life care. Though restricted, we’ve always accommodated visitors so people have been able to see those closest to them. We were one of the first local health care providers to request compulsory lateral flow tests to all visitors to support this.
We have continued to support people in their own homes, increasing our ‘virtual’ beds to cope with demand. With so many of our patients isolating, our teams have been a lifeline.
Wellbeing and rehabilitation support and groups were provided online during the bulk of the pandemic, but we are now welcoming patients back to the Hawthorne Centre too.
Our pre and post bereavement support moved online, which is something our patients have asked us to continue. Others have been able to benefit from ‘walking therapy’, taking place in our gardens.
Our education team have delivered training to NHS, nursing home, mental health and social care colleagues, promoting high-quality end of life care in all these settings.
The Compassionate Neighbours have found ways to safely support those lonely an isolated, picking up shopping and prescriptions but also providing social support in the form of virtual meet ups.