Hospice at Home Carlisle and North Lakeland is asking if you could you give a gift this Christmas and support its vital work.
Hospice at Home is a charity although some funding is received from the NHS, over 80 per cent of its running costs – around £1 million – needs to be raised in order to ensure that this vital help is available when needed and remains free of charge to patients and their families.
Last year, on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day, Hospice at Home took six phone calls to patients and provided 27 personal care visits, a respite block, three overnight care blocks, which totalled 58 hours of care.
It is asking people to donate to help it continue its vital work.
It said:
- £10 could purchase refreshments for patients, families or carers during family support sessions
- £25 could help a patient relax by supplying oils and towels for complementary therapy treatment
- £50 could purchase a care box which includes a variety of personal care items for a patient in need
- £100 could enable vital training for a new clinical volunteer this Christmas.
Julie Boothman, nurse team lead for Hospice at Home, said: “Hospice at Home provides palliative and end of life nursing care to those people, their families and carers who live in our community.
“Often, we underestimate the effect of a phone call, the manner within that call and the effect it has on people experiencing a traumatic time in their lives. Hospice at Home has an on-call system where a member of the team is available to respond to the needs of the patients and their carer; 24/7, 365 days no matter what day of the year.”
Alison Manson, family support service lead at Hospice at Home, added: “The Bereavement and Family Support Service is available to anyone, regardless of whether Hospice at Home is, or was, involved in providing care. Referrals can be taken over the telephone.
“We are hoping to establish a bereavement group in the near future and would love to hear from people who would be interested in joining a support group.”
The contact number for advice or to make a referral is 01228 608942.
Tiffany Lew, fundraiser for Hospice at Home said, “We would like to thank all of our supporters who have donated their time, money, items and even shared their kind words about our service. If you are able to Give a Gift this Christmas, we would be ever so grateful for your help in enabling us to continue providing local care for local people.”
