How we've really been affected during the covid-19 pandemic.

As we learn to adapt to normal living, we’ve reflected on what really has been the most difficult 18 months the hospice has had to face, and how we have been able to get through it.

The last 18 months hasn’t been easy for anyone, we’ve faced uncertainty, many people have lost loved ones, and we’ve adapted to a new way of living, but the work we have been doing at the hospice has continued, and this is all down to the determination of the staff at the hospice. This has enabled us to stay open and provide specialist palliative care to local people that have needed us most in this very difficult time.

David Smith, Chief Executive of Teesside Hospice explains ‘How we’ve survived, is down to one simple thing really, it’s the team here. The staff, the volunteers, have been absolutely phenomenal. They’ve been so flexible, so up for doing things differently. They’ve been so resilient. They’re the ones that have kept the hospice going, that have kept the hospice open when it’s been needed it’s very most.’

We quickly had to adapt and work differently to continue to support other services within our area. ‘We talk a lot about systems working in Healthcare, and Covid has really brought this to the fore. The outset of the pandemic we wanted to look at what resources do we have at Teesside Hospice that could benefit not just us, but the wider community around us. So within our in-patient unit, where we’ve got the only specialist beds in the whole of South Tees, we worked with James Cook to make sure we could bring people in from the hospital as quickly as possible when they were under pressure. We were able to help people in Stockton who haven’t been able to access the Hospice over there because they’ve been closed for part of this period, and we’ve had our specialist clinical team here being able to offer telephone support, outreach support to GP’s and other professionals out in the community so that they can look after the people that their responsible for who’ve got more specialist level palliative care needs.’

Teesside Hospice provides care to patients, families and friends who need them most. We have a specialist in-patient unit which enables us to help monitor symptoms from their diseases. ‘The biggest misconception is that we only look after people who are dying from their diseases unfortunately. About 60% of what we do is actually looking after people with symptoms from their diseases, to make sure that we can get their symptoms controlled so they can actually get back home to be with their loved ones and live the lives they have, as best they can.’ Dr Max Charles from Teesside Hospice explains.

Simon’s husband, Lawrence died at the hospice, but before that he received specialist palliative care at the end of his life, we made sure they were able to make the most of every moment they had left together. ‘He connected with doctors here, and made friends with some of them, and really felt like they were on his side, I think we both did actually’.

Hospice care is not just about caring for people at the end of their life, it’s also about caring for people within the community so they can have the best quality of life available. Doctor Max explains ‘We do look after people at the end of their lives, but we also help people living with life limiting conditions to cope with their conditions, and support them so that they can be at home with their loved ones, and that’s what is really important to know, that we do both, and I think that’s what a lot of people don’t understand about palliative care’. This includes he services many people don’t know about, including the Lymphoedema clinic, which has stayed open all the way through the pandemic by providing the service as safely as possible to as many people as possible.

The hospice has also continued to provide care to people who are struggling with the loss of a loved one. Simon has experienced this first-hand, as he has received bereavement counselling through the Hospice after the death of his husband, Lawrence. When grief has been on-going for six months or longer, and you’re still finding that you’re experiencing significant problems we believe expert, clinical support from Teesside Hospice may be able to help to focus on this. Whilst in lockdown we have expanded and developed these services so that we can really help the people that needs us, including an online referral form.

We have also continued our care within the community through the outreach nurses, and the Wellbeing Centre. The Wellbeing Centre has provided virtual services for people living at home with a terminal illness. This has enabled people to stay connect with our team so they receive the support they need, whether this be symptom management, psychological, spiritual or social support, we’re here for you.

The funding we have received over the last 18 months has been amazing, and without your support we wouldn’t be able to continue to provide this care. We will continue to develop our services to support the people within our community, before, during and after a pandemic. We’re here for you, when you need us most.

If you would like to help us continue to provide this care, you can donate to our Summer Appeal.

Donate here

Thank you to Paul Frost Media for creating this film.