Caring During Covid: Six Months Reflection
Covid has brought many challenges for all of us, but thanks to your support St Gemma’s has continued to be here to care for local patients and their families. These are some of the things we achieved together during the first six months of the pandemic.
Every achievement of St Gemma’s is only possible thanks to you, our unfaltering community of supporters. Your amazing support and the way you stood by the Hospice in 2020 was absolutely incredible. Thank you.
Caring for patients and their families…
- Continued care for patients including those with Covid-19
- 260 patients admitted for In-Patient care
- 1,733 face-to-face consultations with patients at home
- Video assessments and telephone consultations with patients at home and in care homes
- Visiting by families supported safely
- ‘Keep in touch’ service for letters, photos and messages to In-Patients.
Here for patients’ loved ones…
St Gemma’s is here for the whole family and Covid hasn’t changed that. Thanks to your support, we have been able to adapt our services and ensure that we are still there for our patients’ loved ones when they need us.
- Established a Covid-19 family support line for Leeds
- Supporting a regional bereavement helpline
- Developed a Covid-specific funeral planning pack
- Virtual meetings with bereaved children supporting by the Young People’s Service
- Day out at Flamingo Lane for bereaved children and their families
- Continued to provide bereavement counselling and support to adults.
Raising the funds and showing our appreciation…
The way we fundraise has been hugely impacted by the coronavirus pandemic but you have risen to the challenge – as have our talented fundraising team.
- Reassured public that we are financially stable and care continues
- Planning and setting new budgets
- Amazing ongoing support from donors
- Phoned hundreds of supporters to thank them for their donations
- Regular updates to donors on our achievements
- Worked closely with NHS Leeds CCG and Hospice UK to influence funding for the hospice sector
- Adapted to the changing world – cancelled many events but innovated to raise money in new ways
- Reopened most of our charity; astonishing response from customers and stock donations.
Supporting the workforce…
Since the beginning of the pandemic, the wellbeing of our workforce has been a priority. These are some of the ways we’ve ensured that our team are supported and kept in the loop.
- Set up a Senior Covid Task Group who meet regularly
- Regular briefings and updates including staff support sessions and post-shift debriefs
- Covid-specific team webpages with latest updates, FAQs and resources
- Created an online wellbeing hub
- Regular virtual ‘Question Time’ sessions with the Chief Executive
- Supported staff to work at home including new IT equipment, software and home-working handbook
- Board of Trustees adapted, meeting more frequently online, supporting rapid decision making
- Robust stock of personal protective equipment (PPE) and training in safe PPE use
- Covid-secure Hospice site
- Individual staff risk assessments.
Playing our part in the city…
We are proud to be part of the local community and lucky to work with so many fantastic colleagues from healthcare organisations across the city. This collaboration ensures people in Leeds can receive the best possible care – care that is always adapting and improving. These are some of the ways we have done this since the start of the pandemic.
As a University Teaching Hospice, we also share our palliative care expertise and research nationally and internationally. This year we have been able to do this through virtual education for healthcare professional across the world.
- Played active role in city-wide pandemic leadership and response groups, including establishing a Community End of Life Care Covid group
- Continued to accept referrals from across the city
- Worked with health professionals across all sectors to advise, support, and influence decisions about patient care
- Supported Leeds Palliative Care Network to create an advice line and resources for health professionals
- Supported and training staff for new Yorkshire Nightingale Hospital
- Provided tailored online training for staff and health and care colleagues, locally and internationally, including: symptom management of patients with Covid-19, PPE training, Advance Care Planning guidance, Verification of Expected Death
- Supported care homes staff with training and patient advice.
Thank you to everyone who has supported St Gemma’s in any way and made these achievements possible.