Here at City Hospice, our usual work goes on – we are continuing to work through the pandemic providing palliative care advice and support to the community of Cardiff.
People may be directly affected by coronavirus – where they or a member of the family has had the infection, or has had to self-isolate as a result.
We of course continue to see people who have other illnesses but whose care options may be altered as a result of the pandemic. We understand as well the great impact of the current no visiting rules for hospitals, care homes and nursing homes
Everything has changed – and everyone is affected.
By working together with colleagues and with our patients and families, we can and will find a way through. What can be helpful in general is for everyone to expect these different arrangements. Care will be there, but just in a different way. Teams may comprise varying numbers and different people as a result of health and social care professionals themselves having to self-isolate at different times.
Usual arrangements for seeking prescriptions or medications may be altered and so forward planning is needed. Different ways of communicating with those who people are unable to visit are useful to explore. This is also a time where sensitive shared communication within families is useful to explore what people may or may not want to happen if they are less well.
It goes without saying that we will continue to do all we can to help and support.
We have added some general information around caring for people, breathlessness, support and bereavement to the City Hospice website in the hope it will be useful.
General information
Everyone has been affected by the coronavirus pandemic. UK government provides regular updates on the guidance to try to slow the spread of the virus. These can be found here
The impact on communities and provision of health care and care has been significant. People are becoming ill as a result of the virus, or are at risk of catching the virus in addition to other health conditions. This is resulting in extra caution being needed. The impact of the social distancing measures and isolation imposed has been great.
Here at City Hospice, we continue to provide palliative care support to our community, together with colleagues from primary care. There may be less choice in preferred place of care . So we would like to signpost you to some useful links if you are looking after someone at home as a result of the pandemic.
Dr Fiona Rawlinson, Consultant in Palliative Medicine
