Melanie Stone

The recent rising levels of infection across our area have resulted in the need for additional beds in all our hospitals. To assist with this demand, Oakhaven in partnership with West Hants CCG (Clinical Commissioning Group) will be opening four additional bedrooms to patients who are Covid negative and medically fit for discharge from acute hospitals, but who still require additional support.

Andrew Ryde, Chief Executive said ‘the last 12 months has been incredibly difficult and the fight goes on. There is light at the end of the tunnel with the vaccination programme being rolled out but there are a few more months until the pressure is reduced. It is essential that we support our community and our NHS colleagues during this time and by opening these beds we are helping to relieve some of the pressure currently faced by Hospitals.’

Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic Oakhaven Hospice has worked hard to ensure that those within our community facing the end of life continue to receive our specialist support. Our 8 bedded unit has remained open, with Doctors, nurses and health care assistants adapting to the challenges of Covid and worked to find new ways of delivering care. Over the winter period capacity had already been increased to 10 beds but with this latest agreement we will now be providing 14 beds.

With restrictions on travel and limits placed on visiting times, many under our care have chosen to receive support at home surrounded by their families. Our community teams are working tirelessly to ensure that they are cared for, pain free and comfortable throughout their remaining days. Their expertise brings the specialist hospice care into people’s homes creating over 300 hospice beds across our community at any one time.

In order to manage the additional rooms at the Hospice, there will be an increased need for staff within the in-patient unit. Donna Wilkins, Director of People Services said ‘the level of support we have received has been phenomenal from our current staff, our wonderful volunteers, our ex colleagues as well as from qualified nurses who have picked up our plea on social media. So many people have expressed their desire to help, either with extra hours, volunteering, returning to work, or taking on additional duties to help the Hospice throughout this time. It is only with this support that we have been able to increase our bedded care.”

The hospice has faced a very challenging time during the pandemic with many of its income streams severely cut back in particular the closing of its shops during the lockdowns. Every month the hospice shops are closed is a loss of approximately £100,000 of income. In addition to this our inability to hold events and other fundraising initiatives has significantly cut back its income. The hospice is extremely grateful for the support the community shows in helping it provide its services.”

Oakhaven Hospice is proud to announce that they have extended their care within the community through the appointment of a registered nurse to support those within care homes who are facing the end of life.

“We are thrilled that the generosity of The Beaulieu Beaufort Foundation, has enabled us to create this new role” says Andrew Ryde, Chief Executive of Oakhaven Hospice “this post will mean that we are able to further extend our services to nursing and care homes, allowing us to support those who care for the residents as they approach end of life. We are incredibly grateful to the Beaulieu Beaufort Foundation for their continued support of the Hospice.”

This role will complement our existing community team of clinical nurse specialists and registered nurses, who, along with the provision of personal care from Oakhaven Care, work tirelessly in ensuring those who wish to remain at home or in their care home can, do so in a supportive and cared for environment. It will help ensure they are able to die in the place of their choosing rather than as emergency admissions into hospital.

Lucy Smith, Oakhaven Head of Nursing said “this has been a real opportunity to strengthen our community nursing team and to help us support care homes as they care for their residents. This role will develop strong links with all care homes and be a direct link to the hospice for the home. They will work with the staff both at the bedside caring for the patient but also in terms of developing educational support programmes.”

During Covid-19 Oakhaven has had to adapt to find new ways in which to support its patients out in the community through the use of technology as well as traditional visits. Oakhaven’s work in the community has increased significantly since the start of the year and is now providing in excess of 2,500 hours of care every month for people facing end of life. This could be through the night or during the day depending on their needs. This role will really help in increasing the level of support we can provide to the care and nursing homes.

This month, global firm INEOS has donated £10,000 to Oakhaven Hospice through the international INEOS Community Fund.

This grant will support the vital work of the hospice as it finds new working methods to provide support and guidance to people across its local community dealing with end of life issues.

Oakhaven Hospice provides specialist palliative care and support for over 250 patients, carers and families at any one point across the New Forest. The Hospice’s mission is to meet the end of life needs of its community while aspiring to make every moment matter by promoting quality of life for people with life-limiting conditions and their families. As part of a wide range of care services, the hospice provides traditional support, social interaction, physiotherapy, complementary therapy, as well as counselling and bereavement services.

The grant will be used by Oakhaven Hospice to fund its vital work as it finds new ways of operating its service in the wake of the Coronavirus crisis. It will fund a new “Stay Connected” telephone support line to allow Hospice staff to deliver care and expertise, in line with social distancing requirements. Operated by a Registered General Nurse this service is an essential response to the Covid-19 pandemic and allows Oakhaven to support their community more than ever during these difficult times.

Oakhaven Hospice Chief Executive, Andrew Ryde, said:  “We are delighted to have received this support from the INEOS Community Fund, which has come at a pivotal moment as we work to evolve our services to best support our community to ensure that we make a real difference to people’s lives and help make every moment matter.”

The £1m INEOS Community Fund was established by INEOS Chairman Sir Jim Ratcliffe in March 2020 in tandem with the company’s Covid-19 “Hands On” campaign, which set up new production lines to provide millions of bottles of free hand sanitiser each month to hospitals and frontline healthcare.

The Community fund enables INEOS sites across the world to support the charitable organisations doing vital work in their local communities at this particularly difficult time.

The INEOS Community Fund representative from the Lyndhurst office, Nathan Moore, said:  “We were delighted to be able to help Oakhaven Hospice as they adapt to these very challenging COVID times.  Their new Stay Connected Helpline will allow them to continue their brilliant work of providing support to our local community”.

More information on the work of Oakhaven Hospice  and details on how you can support it can be found via its website:https://www.oakhavenhospice.co.uk/