How our amazing hospice staff have kept going through coronavirus challenges

The three East Lancashire hospices have all continued their Hospice from Home services as well as continuing to keep in contact with those who have lost a loved one who was in hospice.

At East Lancashire Hospice and Pendleside Hospice, the inpatient units have continued to operate under limited visiting access. Early on in the pandemic, people receiving inpatient care were unable to have visitors in their final days.

In normal circumstances, the hospices would be full of life, with friends and family members visiting their loved ones and being at their bedside through the end of their life.

Pendleside Hospice are offering a lateral flow test system to allow visitors

This has been eased by the introduction of lateral flow testing, which has allowed a limited number of visitors to visit patients.

At East Lancashire Hospice in Blackburn, the Hospice at Home service has become of vital importance, with staff believing that due to restrictions on visitors, more people who are coming to the end of their life are deciding to stay home and use this instead of being an inpatient.

Sophie Dempsey, a community nurse specialist, said the socialisation has become a very important part of her role as a nurse for the Hospice at Home service.

She said: “We’ve always felt that our job is vital and makes a huge difference to patients' end-of-life care.

“It is making more difference to patients because a lot of them are feeling like they have less support during Covid-19.

“That face-to-face support is more important than ever.”

Health workers and carers have been able to access the homes of those needing care despite the lockdown restrictions due to it being classed as essential.

Despite an increased call for the Hospice at Home service, the inpatient unit at East Lancashire Hospice has still been vital for some who are battling illnesses such as cancer, lung conditions and other life limiting illnesses which require them to have regular medical care.

Dr Alan Calow, who has been with the hospice since March 2020, said it has been very odd working for a hospice which is so patient orientated at a time when the services are so limited.

He said: “It is really hard because it goes against all your instincts to have to deny people what they would like which might be to see their best friend as well as their family.

“Emotionally it is really hard for the staff and I think we find ourselves trying to be the friend that the patients are not being able to see.

“The staff are trying to take that role of being company but it’s just not the same as having your old best mate round to chew over the old times.”

One of the inpatients at Pendleside Hospice

Having been a GP in Blackburn for 23 years before finishing in March 2019, Dr Calow knew that he wanted a change of pace and environment in his professional life, so he started at the hospice and said one of the best parts of the job is how much time the staff are able to dedicate to patients.

He said: “One of the nice things about the hospice is that because we have such few patients, we can spend proper time with them.

“We can develop a relationship - talk about and reminisce on their lives and hear the stories they have got to tell and that can be quite therapeutic. It’s lovely to be able to listen to it.

“We had one guy who had been through the Blitz and he loved telling stories about his life and it was just great for him to be able to talk to us.”

Julia O’Neill, family support manager at Pendleside Hospice in Reedley, has had to adapt her job role since the first lockdown to offer more services to families from home as well as working in other areas when possible to help colleagues.

One thing that Julia believes has been vital for staff within hospice care, is the teamwork and bond to support not only those receiving end-of-life care and their loved ones but each other.

Julia said: “When we were really restricting visitors in the building, having to go and speak to relatives in the car park and tell them that someone has died, that is so against what hospice nature is.

“I just remember thinking, this just feels so weird and so raw, but I think that hopefully, we did it sensitively and helped.

“Getting the support of your colleagues saying, ‘that was pretty rubbish’ and others acknowledging that is important.”

Due to the nature of their work, staff seeing people die in their care without their loved ones are understandably emotionally affected by how they were having to approach people to give them heart-breaking news.

Although in some cases, people died surrounded by healthcare professionals, there have been occasions when loved ones were able to be in contact virtually during those last few moments.

She added: “It has been really sad that the only communication some people have had with their relatives before they have died has been via Facetime or over the phone.

“We had one patient here who died and his wife was actually talking to him on the phone when he died and it was so emotional.

“There is no way that anybody could have not been really affected by that because we know that in ordinary times, she would have been with him.

“She shared on social media how special that was for her that there was something, although it didn’t compensate for actually being with him at the time.”

READ: Hospice staff help with one of patient's final wishes to pen 55th anniversary card

Virtual services available to those who have lost a loved one have become a lifeline to many as they are dealing with the death of their loved one potentially alone, or without the support network they would ordinarily rely on.

Family support team leader at Pendleside, Simon Frauts, and his team provide counselling.

The one-to-one counselling has been moved to phone and video sessions during lockdown and although the team were concerned that patients may not respond well, uptake has increased and the team contact around 50 people a week.

He said: “One person said we are a beacon in the darkness.

“One women’s partner has died and it’s just her now stuck inside under lockdown restrictions.

“She is already retired and that counselling session each week is worth its weight in gold I feel for her, it lifts her spirits, it lets her know she still matters.

“What makes me feel like I am making a difference is making people feel they are important, that they still matter.”

READ: "Fantastic" hospice helps widower deal with his loss and keeps him occupied

Rossendale Hospice, unlike the others, does not operate an inpatient unit due to its size but still offers Hospice at Home care and a day centre, however this has been closed due to restrictions.

They have hired additional nursing staff and have increased the number of hours that care can be provided by the Hospice at Home service to keep up with the demand.

One of the Rossendale nurses from the Hospice at Home service

Chief executive of Rossendale Hospice Irene Smith said: “The demand for our care and support has not diminished and of course the current 'peak' has seen a dramatic increase in the number of Covid-19 positive cases including members of our staff, who are now thankfully recovered or on the road to recovery.

“In times of crisis teamwork is essential and that has certainly been the case. We have a team to be extremely proud of and who have shown strength, courage and resilience every day.”

Through tough times, the hospice has continued to provide health care to those in need, as well as supporting day therapy patients and families virtually through regular phone calls and home visits to provide much needed support.

She added: “It is a privilege to work with those who need us the most, especially at the moment.

“It has been heartbreaking to see situations where patients have been unable to see their family and friends, the reality and severity of the pandemic.

“Many have lost loved ones and our family support team continue to provide counselling by phone or face to face when lockdown permits.

“Until then we will continue to do what we do best – making every moment count.”

The day centre staff are counting down the days that they can re-open services, dependant on lockdown regulations, but see the vaccine as a “ray of hope” to re-open their services and begin organising fundraisers to support the work done by the hospice.