Swaffham Newsletter

Swaffham & Litcham Home Hospice
The Home Hospice team are delighted to let you know
that our office is now open, after three incredibly
challenging months of the staff team working remotely
from home. We have continued throughout lockdown
to support our cancer patients and counselling clients
via telephone support, but this is no substitute for
our normal face to face support. We have found this
aspect particularly hard as it goes against our own
personal instincts and all the values we hold as an
organisation to be there when you need us most, at
the most difficult of times. None more so than the
added isolation this pandemic has thrust upon us all.
Whilst our office is now open, sadly at this present
time we are unable to run our usual support groups
due the continued restrictions regarding the virus and
the vulnerability of those who would normally attend.
Additionally, at this current time it is not possible for us
to provide our normal transport services for the same
reasons. However, we want to reassure everyone that
this is under weekly review and we are working hard
to ensure as much as we can, that these services will
be resumed as soon as it is safe to do so.
Moving forward, what we are starting to do with the
appropriate social distancing, safety measures and
PPE in place, is being able to gradually visit our patients
at home and to start to re-introduce our face to face
counselling service to continue to support those in
crisis. We would also like to take this opportunity to
reassure you that we are here to take new referrals
from anyone in the local community who has received
a cancer diagnosis. Anyone who feels they may need
to use our counselling service following a new cancer
diagnosis or in the event of bereavement, can also
contact us by calling us on 01760 722937.
We have continued throughout lockdown to take
new referrals; however, we are acutely aware that
understandably many people are unsure as to
whether the usual NHS and voluntary services are up
and running, but please be assured we are very much
here for you.
We would like to thank all our wonderful volunteers for
their continued support and good wishes throughout
lockdown. We cannot wait for the time to come when
we can all be together again doing what we do best.
We would also like to thank whole heartedly all of you
in the local community who have so kindly continued
to support us with donations. We could not do what
we do without this financial support and in this current
climate we need your help more than ever. We are
grateful for every single penny.
From all of us at the Home Hospice, we send you
our best wishes and we look forward to the future
when we can also start to see you all again attending
and enjoying our usual fundraising events. In the
meantime, take care and keep safe.
Sarah Leggett, Deputy Co-ordinator
Swaffham Community Hospital
Similar to last time, here in Swaffham the pressure
remains as the hospital has expanded the number of
beds available for extra patients. Visiting restrictions
still remain. The staff continue to work exceptionally
hard to make sure everyone gets best attention.
Twice now as a little treat on warm days, we delivered
a large supply of ice lollies,which I understand went
down well. We also provide funds for “patient
toiletries” as sometimes patients arrive at short
notice and may not have essentials with them.
Still no new date yet for our AGM . Our accounts for
2019 have been signed off by our Auditor. If anyone
would like a copy please let me know. It is gratifying
that we are still receiving memorial donations from
families where their loved ones have received care.
On the Social front we have paused our fundraising
events. However looking ahead we don’t know if
we will be allowed to hold our town collection in
September. We have booked a date for a coffee
morning at the Methodist Church on Saturday 19th
September and will decide if this can go ahead or not
nearer the time.
As I suggested last time it is an idea to ask you all as
residents to consider whether you would like to have
a jam jar or tin at home in which you might donate
any spare change over the coming weeks. It would
be a small way of recognising the fantastic service
our NHS colleagues are giving over this difficult
period. If you would like to do this, donations could
be left at the hospital reception, or if you ring me I
can arrange collection. The money raised would be
spent on small treats for patients and staff.
We are always open to ideas that the public might
have for improvements that we could help with at
the hospital, so do contact us to share any thoughts
you might have.
As ever if you are interested in joining our small
committee, do ring me for an informal chat. It would
be helpful to have a few new people, I promise it's
not too onerous! Why not give us a try by attending
one of our committee meetings?
Colin Houghton (Chairman)
01760 336025
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