St Gemma’s is for people who have life threatening illnesses with difficult symptoms. Care is based on a simple idea – that the person is more than the illness. Each of us – sick or well – has unique physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs. St Gemma’s tries to respond to these needs in ways which place the highest value on respect, choice and empowerment.
Care is offered to patients and their carers in the Hospice’s In-Patient Unit, through the St Gemma’s community team supporting patients and families at home and in care homes, and via a range of Day Services.
Care is provided by a range of specially trained staff including: nurses, doctors, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, social workers, complementary therapists and a spiritual care team. Our expert team works together to ensure the needs of patients and carers are met. We also work closely with other care providers in the city to ensure a seamless service for people across Leeds.
Families and carers are supported by the Hospice’s specialist bereavement workers who provide support to all, including children and young people.
St Gemma’s care continued despite the ongoing challenges of the Coronavirus pandemic. Services were adapted to meet the needs of patients and their loved ones.
Please read on for a snapshot of another busy year…
Always providing the highest level of care
- 1,236 local people were referred to St Gemma’s care for the first time
- Our team of specialist community nurses and doctors made 17,801 contacts with patients, either face to face or on the phone
- There were 508 admissions onto the Hospice’s In-Patient Unit. We cared for patients with Covid-19 and facilitated patient visiting
- The therapy and support team made 1,986 face to face, telephone and virtual contacts and carers across the community
- We trained 1,445 external healthcare professionals, mostly online. We also provided new education programmes to respond to the pandemic
Your vital support
- You helped to raise £11.5m so we could continue providing vital services and investing in raising money for the next year
- Despite lockdown closures, 187,326 customers visited our chain of shops and bought 435, 528 items, helping to raise £1.1 million towards patient care
- 950 volunteers contributed 16,442 hours across key areas, including bereavement support, spiritual care and gardening
What you said…
- 99% of bereaved families felt their loved ones had been cared for with dignity
- “A charity so close to many people’s hearts, and making such a massive difference…
The Year in Numbers
For the full Annual Review 2020/2021 and for further information on St Gemma’s care and other activities, visit https://www.st-gemma.co.uk/keypublications