Blythe House Hospicecare is still here to help

A High Peak hospice has re-affirmed that it is 'here to help and here to stay'.

Blythe House Hospicecare gave the assurance as England entered its second lockdown and coronavirus cases continue to rise.

The Chapel-based hospice said the highest levels of care and support to local people affected by life-limiting illness and bereavement would go on ‘throughout the Covid-19 lockdown and beyond.’

From July to September, the expert and compassionate team delivered more than 3,100 hours of palliative and end of life care in the comfort of patients’ homes – with 98 per cent of people dying in the place of their choice at home with their loved ones. 

Usually face-to-face support groups for carers, people who are bereaved and those who are affected by prostate and breast cancers, have been taking place monthly via online platform, Zoom with an average of 12 attendees per session. 

The counselling and bereavement team delivered more than 120 support sessions for adults and children, including 42 Covid-19-secure face-to-face meetings. Staff also provided more than  670 telephone or online support sessions.

Louise Furmston (pictured), community engagement lead, said: “There has been huge concern and anxiety with patients who have experienced ‘multiple losses’ as a result of both living with a life-limiting illness, but also the limitations that the pandemic has enforced. 

“The impact of not being able to have human contact with family or friends, and not being able to access usual avenues of support, including visiting us at Blythe House, has been huge.

“Other worries include the uncertainty of when the situation might improve, the ever-changing guidelines, difficulties accessing healthcare services, or treatments being cancelled or delayed, as well as issues with managing symptoms like pain, nausea, fatigue and breathlessness.

“At Blythe House, while government rules have stopped us from undertaking our usual events and services, they would never stop us from providing the highest quality care, advice and support to local people who are affected by life-limiting illnesses, such as cancer, COPD, heart failure and motor neurone disease.”

Janet Dunphy, hospice CEO, added: “As Dame Cicely Saunders, the founder of the hospice movement, once said ‘We cannot take away the whole hard thing that is happening, but we can help to bring the burden into manageable proportions.’ That is exactly what we are striving to do here at Blythe House.”

To access support: 

• Call 01298 815 388 
• Email bhh.referrals@nhs.net 
• Visit www.blythehousehospice.org.uk