Coronavirus and terminal illness

Commencing from Wednesday 31^st August 2022, asymptomatic testing for staff and visitors at the hospice will be ‘paused’ this means:

Staff 

• Staff are no longer required to test unless they are symptomatic. 
• All hospice staff must ensure they have a supply of LFT kits at home
• Any member of staff who has symptoms of a respiratory infection and a high temperature, or symptoms of a respiratory infection and does not feel well enough to work, is advised to stay at home and avoid contact with other people. Staff in these circumstances should conduct an LFT on the day they start to feel unwell (day 0).
• For staff who have tested positive, the current advice remains in place.
  • The first LFT should be taken 5 days after day 0 (the day symptoms started and or/when they tested positive), the second test should be taken 24 hours after the first. If both LFT results are negative, they may return to work immediately after the second negative LFT result (if symptoms have resolved).
  • Staff should not attend work until they have had two consecutive negative LFT results, they feel well, and do not have a high temperature.
• If any member of staff have any questions regarding these changes please contact your line manager

Patients 

• Patients with a planned date of admission to the hospice as an inpatient from the community or a care setting will be tested with a PCR test 72 hours before admission (if appropriate) and an LFT test on the day of admission.
• If inpatients cannot be tested with a PCR test (for example, unplanned or urgent admissions, or if they have tested positive in the last 90 days) then an LFT on admission is sufficient.
• Patients admitted to the hospice from an NHS hospital will be given a PCR test by the NHS hospital on discharge
• Patients showing symptoms of a respiratory infection and a high temperature, or symptoms of a respiratory infection and do not feel well enough to take part in usual activities should be tested with one LFT on the day the symptoms show (day 0)

Visitors 

• All visitors (including those who may be providing personal care to a hospice patient) are no longer required to test. However, it is advised that individuals who are symptomatic and/or feeling unwell should not visit, even if they provide a negative COVID-19 result.
  • Transmissible viruses such as flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and norovirus can be just as dangerous to hospice patients as COVID-19. If visitors have any symptoms that suggest they may have other transmissible viruses and infections, such as a cough, high temperature, diarrhoea or vomiting, they should avoid visiting, if possible, until at least 5 days after they feel better.
• Visits at the very end of life, that is, the last few days or hours of life should continue to be supported where possible in all circumstances. Infection prevention and control (IPC) measures, for example providing personal protective equipment (PPE) and allowing visitors to go directly to the patient’s room without accessing any communal areas, will help reduce transmission.

• If the number of positive cases begin to rise at the hospice and in the community measures including testing will be reintroduced

If you have any questions regarding these Guidelines, please call 01642 811060

Some charities have worked with the NHS to produce advice about coronavirus (COVID-19) and certain health conditions such as cancer, heart disease and Parkinson's disease.

You can find the full information here.

If you or someone you know is approaching the end of life, you may be worried about coronavirus (COVID-19) and how it may affect your treatment or care.

Do I need to do anything differently as someone who is approaching the end of life?

If you are at home, it is important to follow guidelines about reducing the risk of spreading coronavirus. In England, you are able to be outside for longer and more often. 

If you have family members who are your carers, but they do not live with you, they can continue to visit you to provide essential care, as long as they do not have symptoms of coronavirus.

Essential care means things such as helping with washing or getting dressed, or help with medicines. They will need to follow the advice to reduce the risk of spreading the virus including washing their hands for a minimum of 20 seconds as soon as they arrive.

If they develop symptoms of coronavirus they will need to self-isolate and will not be able to visit you. Let your healthcare team know if this happens.  

You and your family member may find it helpful to make a plan for what to do if they are unable to care for you. This could include names and contact details of:

• your main carer(s) 
• who else can provide care for you if needed
• your next of kin
• your GP and other healthcare team names and their contact details.

Can I still get care from the hospice?

Yes, we are still here for you. 

We are accepting referrals from healthcare professionals as usual. If you have been referred to us, we can care for you on our Inpatient Unit. Or if you have been accessing our Wellbeing Centre (previously Day Hospice), we can offer virtual support.