Sending so much love to you all Star Caroline pays tribute to hospice staff
MEN Behaving Badly star Caroline Quentin has sent a message of support to Bristol’s only adult hospice as it continues to operate during the coronavirus pandemic.
Caroline, who was the patron of the Room to Care Appeal to raise the final £1.5 million to build the new St Peter’s Hospice inpatient unit, sent the special video message to the charity.
The actor and TV presenter, who has appeared also appeared in TV series Doc Martin, has been a regular visitor to the Brentry site in recent years.
She launched the Room to Care Appeal, backed by the Bristol Post, returning 18 months later to official declare the new £6.5 million impatient unit open.
In her message, Caroline said she was thinking of her ‘dear friends’ at the hospice, ‘so much at the moment.’
She also paid tribute to the staff and volunteers working at the charity.
She said: “Hello to all my dear friends at St Peter’s Hospice. I am thinking of you so much at the moment. All of you, the doctors, nurses, kitchen staff, people working out in the community, the bereavement support and the psychological support volunteers.
“Everyone that does so much for St Peter’s Hospice.
“I am thinking of you because this must be a very hard time for you.
“I know how diligent and loving and caring you are all the time. “I am sending you so much love.” The inpatient unit at Brentry continues to operate during the coronavirus pandemic with all visitors being screened before being allowed to enter.
The number of visitors at the hospice is also being restricted to two per room, depending on the circumstances.
Procedures have been reviewed in light of the outbreak and only essential staff are allowed into the inpatient unit.
Enhanced infection control measures have been put in to place and the IPU to make it as safe as possible for patients, staff and visitors.
The day hospice and day services have been suspended, with people instead being supported at home.
Nursing staff from the day hospice have been deployed into the IPU and supporting people in the local community.
The hospice’s community nurse specialist team and hospice at home team, which works with patients in the local community, has seen demand for its services soar as the health service struggles to cope with demand. The hospice employs 350 full and part-time staff. Where possible, staff are now working from home.
The hospice cafe at Brentry is closed but the kitchen remains open to provide meals for patients in the inpatient unit.
The reception is operating at normal, taking into consideration social distancing guidelines.
The charity has also been hit by the fact that a large proportion of its volunteer force is over 70 or classed as vulnerable.
As a result all of the hospice’s charity shops have closed.
Hospice CEO Frank Noble said messages of support like Caroline’s helped the charity get through what he described as ‘crazy times.’
Frank said: “Support like this means so much to us at this extraordinary time.
“It’s tough going at the moment. “We pride ourselves in offering compassionate holistic care to our patients and their families, often through hugs, holding hands, touch and the compassion in our facial expressions.
“It is tough for our patients and staff to have to wear protective equipment, which takes some of the humanity out of our care.
“We have been working exceptionally hard to keep our end-oflife-care going for our inpatients and all of the patients out in the community.
“That challenge has been made all the more difficult by the loss of income from closing our shops and postponing our fundraising events.
“Nevertheless, we are still here, offering free care to everyone in need across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.
“This support means a great deal to us and helps to keep us going through these crazy times.”