An end-of-life nursing service, which helps alleviate pressures on the NHS, has been awarded a donation of £100,000 from Barclays.
Leading Derbyshire hospice, Treetops Hospice Care, launched the ‘Roaming Nurse Service’ in April last year as part of its emergency response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Every evening, the Roaming team – made up of a Treetops Hospice at Home nurse and Healthcare Assistant – responds to calls from families with a loved one at the end of life, who has chosen to die at home. Nurses assist with administering medication, helping with pain relief and symptom management.
The £100,000 funding has come from the Barclays 100×100 UK COVID-19 Community Aid Package.
Matt Ceiley, from Derby, is amongst those who’ve benefited from the Roaming Nurse team, to help care for his late father, Mick:
“The Treetops Roaming Nurse Service were so quick to get there. There were times when dad needed pain relief or medication that without the Roaming Nurses, he wouldn’t have been able to have as quickly. All you wanted was for him to be more comfortable.
“We couldn’t have managed without the Treetops nurses who were all so compassionate, professional and knowledgeable. It was so important and meant we could trust their night-time care, get some rest and be there with dad at the end.
“It’s only when you need these services that you realise how vital they are. There are some things you can do without, but hospice care isn’t one of them.”
Nigel Higgins, Barclays Chairman, said: “COVID-19 has created an unprecedented social and economic impact in the UK, with many experiencing greater hardship due to the crisis.
“Incredible charities, such as Treetops Hospice Care, have been playing a vital role in the UK’s response to the pandemic, ensuring urgent help reaches those most in need of support.
“As a bank we have been doing all we can for our customers, clients and colleagues, and we hope that by partnering with Treetops and many other charities across the UK, collectively we can ensure that as many people as possible in the communities in which we live and work are supported through this crisis.”
Treetops Hospice at Home Manager, Teresa Smith, said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive this significant funding for the Roaming Nurse Service.
“Since the service began, our Roaming Teams have made over 900 visits to patients at home, potentially saving up to 1,000 call outs from the Derby Royal Hospital, the 111 out-of-hours service, and possible hospital admissions.
“We support families that might not need a Treetops nurse to sit with their loved one for a whole night but might need to call with a one-off request. They now contact the Roaming Service who can respond quickly and who have an existing knowledge of the patient and their needs.”
Treetops provides nursing care and emotional support for adults with life-limiting conditions such as cancer, motor neurone disease and heart and respiratory conditions.
The Hospice at Home Service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days per year. Last year, Hospice at Home nurses provided over 28,000 hours of care across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.
Treetops is doing all it can to continue to support those in most need. The hospice welcomes donations to ensure the future of the hospice and its services: www.treetopshospice.org.uk/donate.
