'Don't forget us', plead frontline Nottinghamshire Hospice staff amid funding fears

Nurses and healthcare assistants at Nottinghamshire Hospice are continuing to provide crucial end of life care in patients’ homes across Nottinghamshire, keeping hospital beds free for Covid-19 patients, as the charity launches a special appeal to replace lost income.
Nottinghamshire Hospice staff have launched a funding appeal. Photo: Google EarthNottinghamshire Hospice staff have launched a funding appeal. Photo: Google Earth
Nottinghamshire Hospice staff have launched a funding appeal. Photo: Google Earth

The Forget Us Not campaign aims to recover funds for a projected shortfall of £150,000 caused by loss of income from the hospice’s ten shops and cancelled fundraising events.

Since the onset of the pandemic, the hospice has expanded the care it provides to cope with exceptional demand, extending its night support service to offer daytime visits and converting its day therapy services to outreach for patients no longer able to come to the hospice.

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Jo Polkey, director of care at Nottinghamshire Hospice, said: “It’s absolutely vital that we continue to care for patients in their homes at the current time as it supports our NHS colleagues and helps patients with terminal illness stay at home and out of hospital.

“Our frontline nursing teams are doing a fantastic job during unprecedented times, providing care for our very vulnerable patients in the last weeks, days and hours of their lives.

“Because we’ve had to temporarily close our shops and cancel many of the fundraising events and activities we had planned for the spring and summer, we’re appealing to people to get behind our campaign so we can continue delivering this much needed care.

“We will not forget those who need us at this time, please do not forget us.”

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Coronavirus has put extra pressure on frontline teams in the way care is delivered.

The hospice is following government and local guidance regarding PPE equipment to keep staff and patients safe and carrying out telephone triage before visiting patients’ homes.

The team recently put out a call on social media for help with PPE and companies and communities have responded, providing masks, aprons and sanitiser gel.

Jo added: “We really appreciate it and if there are other companies or individuals who are able to help too, we’d love to hear from you.”

To donate to the appeal, click here.