Hospice appeal for help in face of £100k losses

STUART PIKE

ROSSENDALE Hospice has launched an appeal as it faces the biggest shortfall in funding in its 32-year history due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Rawtenstall-based Hospice is asking the community for support from the community to maintain its end of life care during these unprecedented times, with estimated losses of £100,000 over the next few months - around a quarter of its income.

As a charity, more than 80 per cent of the Hospice’s income is received through donations from various fundraising events, community activities and corporate partnerships. With all their Spring events being cancelled or postponed, and all three shops temporarily shut, the Hospice is bracing itself for a huge loss in income from Fundraising and retail income. The loss in funds will equate to over 800 hours of nursing care.

Since the outbreak of Covid-19, the Hospice has also put in extra measures to protect vulnerable

Any donation, no matter how large or small, goes towards providing care to patients and family/carers during the final months and weeks of their life. A donation of £10 would provide a box of protective gloves for nurses while £100 funds a nurse for the day.

Irene Smith CEO said they are working as normally as possible in what is an unprecedented and ever changing situation and following government guidelines to keep patients, volunteers and staff safe.

She said: “We are also working closely with East Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Group to see if we can assist the District Nursing Teams who are also providing care to our patients.

“Our Hospice at Home Teams are continuing to provide essential care for patients in their own homes. Unfortunately we had to suspend our Day Therapy service a few weeks ago, but are offering help in different ways, including telephone support and counselling sessions.”

She added: “It has been our highest priority to ensure our staff have the equipment they need to

●● Sofia Ali Hospice at Home Nurse for Rossendale Hospice

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