Coronavirus: How We've Adapted

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 had contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID 19 (or has symptoms), or you have any of the below symptoms and feel unwell, please don't enter the building:

• High temperature
• Sore throat
• Cough
• Breathing difficulties
• Loss of sense of smell/taste
• Diarrhoea

All visitors are kindly reminded to use the hand gel before entering the hospice and on a mask prior to entering the In-patient Unit.

We will of course, constantly review these changes and keep you updated. Please keep checking this page for the latest information.

Wellbeing Centre

Our Wellbeing Centre (previously known as Day Hospice) have put together a new programme of support. The programmes will be delivered by our nurses and trained staff. Our Wellbeing sessions are back up and running.

Bereavement Support

Through lockdown, we unfortunately weren't able to be in the same room, but we are happy to announce we have started face-to-face appointments once again.

If your bereavement was over six months ago and you are still finding that you are having serious difficulties, we are here to help. Our trained counsellors can help you to understand your feelings, how they are impacting you and develop tools and techniques that will reduce and alleviate their impact.

Find out more

Lymphoedema Clinic

Patients are accessing the clinic as normal, we are providing clinic appointments and Home visits when required. We can also contact patients on the telephone if they are unable to attend clinic or if they require some advice.

Patients receive treatments in clinic following assessment if this is required.

We are following all government guidelines and thank patients for continuing to wear face coverings if able to do so.

Outreach Nurse

We are doing home visits where it's safe to do so.

We are also carrying out video consultations for reviews and assessments. 

We are as determined as ever to make sure people with a terminal illness still get the care they need.