Hospice needs your help to furnish its new facility

With Oldham now under the strictest tier of Covid-19 restrictions, Dr Kershaw's Hospice is appealing to the local community for help as the pandemic affected plans to furnish its soon-to-be-complete new In-Patient Unit. 

The Royton-based hospice was due to open back in September but it's been delayed until the New Year because of the pandemic, which has caused significant additional costs. 

Together with a decreased level of funding opportunities, which are now being felt even more under Tier 3 restrictions, it has left the hospice with the significant and unexpected shortfall of £601,352. 

The hospice say it needs £9,000 a day to be able to provide the dedicated support and care for its patients and has seen a steep decline in donations since Covid hit in March.

Work on the new facility had to stop for over a month at the beginning of lockdown and is now continuing but at a much slower pace due to social distancing and Covid safety measures on site. 

It's now reaching out to the community to support the hospice by helping it to raise the funds needed to buy the specialist furniture for the in-patient lounge in the new facility. 

Ward Sister, Kelly Foster, is spearheading the hospice's Furnish with Love – Give the Gift of Comfort appeal. 

So far this year, Dr Kershaw's Hospice has been able to provide care for 418 patients and their families living within Oldham.

The new In-Patient Unit will expand upon this, providing an increased patient capacity with modern, dignified and private facilities that Dr Kershaw’s patients’ deserve.

Kelly explained: "Like everyone in our community, this pandemic has had a huge effect on the Hospice, our first priority, as always, has been patient care. The whole team has risen to every challenge to ensure that our patients come first.

"With hospice services working well, our attention turned to the building of the new In-Patient Unit, which has been delayed due to the pandemic by a few months with unexpected additional costs.

"Our plan for the facility to be ready by the New Year is well on track but the funds for the internal all-important furnishings are still very much needed, so we’re asking our community to find it in their hearts to help.

“Our vision is to create a lounge that is a home from home, for patients to relax in with their family and friends. We want to add to our patients’ comfort and safety as they spend time with their loved ones, providing a place where they can have precious time together, creating special forever-memories.”

The in-patient family lounge will be a combination of areas, from cosy corners furnished with coffee tables and chairs, comfortable sofa spaces and even a dining room area with a large table and chairs for a family to sit and eat together.

The hospice is reaching out to the community to make a contribution towards the purchase of these specialist items, furniture that is similar to the furniture you have in your own home but with differences in that they must follow strict health and safety guidelines.

Dr Kershaw's say community support for this initiative is vital to ensure that patients and their families can have their precious moments in a special, comforting environment.

Everyone in the community can help by making a donation or organising their own Furnish with Love fundraising activity, whether you’re staging a virtual quiz, taking on a virtual 5k, asking your friends and family to sponsor your own fundraising or spreading the word and asking others to donate.

The hospice says help is urgently needed and £30 could help towards the gift of a comfortable armchair to support a grandma as she sits to hold her grandchild for the first or perhaps, the last time. 

To make a donation towards the purchase of these much-needed furnishings and to find out more about the appeal, visit www.drkh.org.uk/support-us/furnishwithlove or call the team on 0161 624 9984.

Main image:

The hospice's reality and vision for the new in-patient lounge.