Coronavirus: Update from the Hospice Leadership Team
Posted on 24 June 2021
Dear colleagues,
It’s been lovely to have sunshine recently and I hope people are feeling the benefit of that and managing to take some time off.
Health and care services in Leeds are under significant pressure and it is clear that we are feeling that pressure across all St Gemma’s clinical services. We are experiencing very high levels of referrals to community services and the team is really stretched. The senior clinical team are fully aware of this and are looking at the options for managing the unusually high levels of demand alongside looking at longer term community models of care. On the In-Patient Unit we have a number of patients with very complex needs and we are taking account of this when considering admissions each day.
The date of relaxing restrictions in England has been pushed back from 21 June to 19 July. A further government announcement on the actual date is expected around 5 July. We have therefore made no changes to our Covid-19 visiting, PPE, social distancing or other arrangements. We will keep everyone updated as we find out more and review plans.
Please make sure that you speak to your manager before you book any overseas travel. The traffic light system for travel continues to change, and you may need to self-isolate for 10 days on your return. Your manager will need to think about the implications of any absence on our services.
Some of you may remember Sr Seraphine, one of the Sisters of the Cross and Passion, and a big part of the Hospice since we first opened in 1978. Sadly, she died at the Sisters’ residential home in Ilkley on 2 June, age 97. Sr Seraphine spent many happy years living in the convent at the Hospice and until relatively recently she attended daily services in the chapel. St Gemma’s had a special place in her heart and she was so grateful to have been part of the life of the Hospice. May she rest in peace.
Kind regards,
Kerry Jackson
Chief Executive
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