'It is the right thing to do': Trinity Hospice takes unprecedented steps to help NHS in coronavirus fight

Bosses are relaxing the rules on admissions so staff can help treat patients who would not normally go to the hospice, on Low Moor Road, Bispham - but not it they have tested positive for the coronavirus.

An extra 10 beds will be opened at the hospice's in-patient unit, on top of the existing 18 currently available.

While the facility has previously stepped in to free up hospital beds in the past, the scale of the response is "unprecedented", a spokesman said.

It comes despite fears of a massive drop in income following the decision to cancel several major fundraising events due to the pandemic, including the popular Colour Run and Beaverbrooks 10k and bike ride events.

Chief executive David Houston said: “Like so many businesses, we have some staff members off sick or self- isolating, but the willingness of everyone here to go the extra mile is so heartening.

“This isn’t the way we had planned to mark our 35th anniversary but we must help our NHS colleagues.

"We have the backing of our trustees and I’m sure all our supporters would agree this is the right thing to do.”

The move could see hospice staff treating patients they would not normally - with many likely to be elderly and frail - but bosses said two weeks of careful planning would ensure patient and staff safety.

Rather than treating coronavirus patients, the efforts of Trinity's 225 staff - and team of volunteers - would help reduce the strain on hospital staff, helping to free up resources needed to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic.

The move has been partly made possible thanks to the "amazing" response from the local community to Trinity's recent plea for the protective masks and goggles staff will need in the coming weeks.

And Trinity’s hospital-based palliative care team, along with its community nurses and Hospice at Home overnight teams, has also rapidly up-scaled its "virtual consultation" techniques to better support an increasing number of people needing palliative care due Covid-19.

Mr Houston said the pressure on staff would be intense.

He added: “There has been a huge amount of activity in the background to try to mitigate our financial risks, but now we are completely focused on the coming days and weeks, ensuring top class care for everyone who comes into our unit or who is cared for at home.

"The welfare of our staff is also paramount and we are doing all we can to support them.

“Covid-19 is a national emergency and I am proud of the Trinity and Brian House teams who are always ready to step up to any challenge.

"These are difficult times for us all - who doesn’t worry about their own family and friends right now - but we will do whatever we can to help the Fylde coast fight this virus.

“We have staff taking on additional or new roles, some support and counselling staff working from home, and of course at the same time we continue with our day job of providing specialist palliative care to very complex cases on our unit, and in patients’ own homes day and night.

“Our hospital palliative team already works at the hospital alongside frontline NHS staff and we have also established a ‘virtual’ advice service for GPs and nursing homes across the Fylde coast.

"We have even set up a telephone ‘buddy’ system for day patients and our volunteers who may feel isolated. In addition, we are providing palliative care support into the Harbour and Clifton Hospital and are working to provide advice to those helping the homeless on the Fylde Coast.”

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