Dr Kershaw's step up with new patient care measures

Dr Kershaw’s Hospice has announced the new measures it has undertaken in light of the COVID-19 pandemic to continue to offer specialist, individualised, palliative and end-of-life care within the community, making sure patients get the right care whilst supporting colleagues in the NHS.

The Hospice, based on Turf Lane in Royton, has undergone significant changes in the past few months in response to the pandemic.

In April, Dr Kershaw’s Hospice announced that it would be temporarily closing its in-patient unit, so that the Hospice’s team of specially trained nurses and health-care professionals could effectively respond to the pandemic and help to relieve vital areas of the National Health Service.

In addition, the layout of the Hospice itself has been completely adapted, with doctors and nurses currently working within the Well-Being Centre, art rooms and café so that the Hospice’s staff can effectively practice government guidelines on social-distancing.

The new layout also enables cross communication and allows staff to closely support each other during a difficult time.

The Hospice’s doctors have also adapted to meet demand and are now working seven days a week providing a new 24/7 advice and support service directly to ‘Hospice at Home’ staff, GP’s, and community teams - a service which has never been available before the pandemic.

At the start of COVID-19, the Hospice recognised that there would be an increased need for nurses and in April, the charity launched an urgent nurse recruitment scheme.

The appeal was extremely well-received within the community and has therefore allowed the Hospice to recruit bank staff to assist with the increased demand in community care.

The Hospice’s quick and effective response to the pandemic has also meant that the organisation is now dealing with more patients than ever before, tripling their offer within the community of Oldham, with two teams operating day shifts and one operating at night providing vital support to families across the borough.

Nursing teams have also been working closely with Oldham’s Community Nurses, adapting existing models of care in response to the crisis.

By aligning more closely with community nursing colleagues, staff have been able to enhance current collaborative working practices to the benefit of themselves, colleagues and of course, most importantly patients.

In addition, Dr Kershaw’s has been working to help several other organisations within Oldham, developing drug prescribing capabilities for community patients; using new electronically signed drug administration sheets and a prescribing service for all Oldham care homes where commissioned services are unable to meet demand, helping to address the needs of the individual and alleviate pressures within the system.

Its non-clinical team have also swiftly adapted to the Hospice’s new normal, with many now working from home or adopting new roles in response to the crisis.

The Hospice’s shop workers have been re-deployed within the Hospice, helping in areas which need additional assistance.

The volunteering team have been making weekly ‘friendship’ calls to its network of volunteers, and well-being patients, to offer a lending hand if they need anything, and bringing in clinical support if any medical concerns are raised.

The Hospice’s fundraising team have also been busy setting up free, fun activities for families to do in the comfort of their homes to help pass the time during isolation.

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