Hospice ‘overwhelmed’ with hearts

Saturday 25 April 2020

An appeal for pairs of handmade hearts to give to patients and their loved ones as a small “physical comfort” has seen Jersey Hospice overwhelmed with crocheted, knitted and sewn creations.

Jersey Hospice Care has received so many pairs of hearts that they have shared some with the Hospital and local care homes.

The appeal was launched earlier this month, while patients being care for at the Hospice could not receive visitors as normal due to the restrictions brought in as a result of the covid-19 pandemic.

Anna Haslam, one of the Hospice’s Clinical Nurse Specialists, set up the appeal after seeing similar initiatives in other places in the UK. 

“One is given to the patient the same one is taken to their loved one, so they know they are still thinking about them,” she explained. “It’s a physical comfort and a little memento for them to now they are not alone.”

Ms Haslam said the appeal has received “overwhelming” response from the community with over 60 pairs crafted in a short time. They have been distributed to the patients and their families, but also to other islanders being cared for at the hospital or in local care homes.

In addition, islanders have been making cloth masks for the team at the Hospice who continue to care for patients. 

“We have been overwhelmed with support,” Ms Haslam said.

Meanwhile, the Hospice has launched an urgent Hospice Hero Appeal to help ensure it can continue to provide the right end of life care to islanders during the corona virus crisis.

It is hoped the funds will enable the charity to cope with the rise in patient numbers and the extra counsellors, nurses and equipment needed in the weeks and months that lie ahead.

Jersey Hospice Care requires £20,200 a day to provide its services, free of charge, to Jersey’s community. This includes care for 12 end-of-life patients on the In-patient Unit, community-based care for those at home or in other residential settings, as well as the bereavement and emotional support services the charity provides to islanders.

The charity says covid-19 is putting significant pressure on its clinical and support teams working to maintain specialist care 24/7 in unprecedented conditions. 

Pictured: "We need, now more than ever, the support of Islanders," Emelita Robbins said.

At a time when more funding is needed to cover the anticipated increase in need for end-of-life and bereavement services, the charity’s funding streams have been obliterated.

“We have had to close our fundraising shops, cancel major fundraising events and we are seeing a drop in donations as people understandably face their own financial challenges,” Emelita Robbins, Chief Executive of Jersey Hospice Care said.

“All the while pressure on our services is increasing as we remain committed to caring for everyone who comes through our doors and their loved ones. We only have one chance to get things right at the end of life and we need, now more than ever, the support of Islanders to help us do this."

The Hospice Hero Appeal aims to pay tribute to the Hospice team, many of whom have been working 14 hours a day since the crisis began. 

The Appeal will also recognise the many community heroes who will hopefully pledge their support to Hospice during this difficult time. 

There are many ways islanders can become a #HospiceHero, whether it is donating the money they are saving on petrol, parking and coffee by working from home, pledging their Preloved” clothes to Hospice fundraising shops during “enforced” wardrobe sorting, or signing up for the virtual Hospice Half Marathon which can be completed in two stages over 48 hours before the end of April.