Critical services continue for hospice patients

St Luke’s Hospice has been planning for several weeks how to sustain critical services – in particular St Luke’s Community Nursing team and the In Patient Centre – during the coronavirus outbreak.

To achieve this, the charity has created a safe working ‘bubble’ for clinical teams, with nurses and doctors equipped with protective equipment and new ways of working.

All processes and protocols for working with patients and families have also been completely updated in line with current recommendations.

“Our St Luke’s community nurses and doctors are still working to support 450 patients in their own homes across Sheffield and we are at full capacity in our In Patient Centre, with 20 patients receiving dedicated specialist care 24 hours a day,” said St Luke’s Chief Executive Peter Hartland.

“We have, however, suspended some services, particularly those involving social gatherings for vulnerable patients, clients and volunteers - these include Clifford House and day patient visits to our Active Intervention Centre.

“But we remain committed to safe care and to maintaining patient services with the same dignity and compassion that we have across nearly 50 years.”

With a host of fundraising events cancelled, though, and with the 14 St Luke’s shops all closed for the foreseeable future, Peter added that the charity would be facing some financial hurdles over coming months.

“Our supporters know that 75 per cent of St Luke’s income comes from our community support and that will be badly affected for a long time,” he said.

“But we still have ways that everyone can help, through our lottery, for example, and donations – and you can find out more through St Luke’s website, which remains active and contains all the latest information on services and how you can continue to support us, should you want to help.

“We’re working hard to ensure that St Luke’s is here now, and will still be here in the future.”

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