Terri Gazi lead nurse provides her latest update regarding COVID-19 and life at City Hospice for our patients and staff.
Every week when I write this I hope that things will start to return to normal. Although there is a slight ease on restrictions here in Wales, we are all still very much getting used to life with the coronavirus.
So life is not normal
People ask us at City Hospice when this will all end and life will return to normal. When someone is diagnosed with an incurable illness life never returns to normal. They have to learn to live with the change that the illness inflicts on their life.
However life around them remains the same, or usually through the hard work of those around them that love them, they try to keep things normal. Living with uncertainty is what our patients go through every day.
Like you we really do not know, the only thing we do know is we will continue to visit and support our patients and families. Many of you are now really struggling with self isolation. Not being able to see members of your own family or perhaps close friends. Some children are also affected in different ways, and are finding these times very difficult to cope with.
This is not the first time for me to mention this. I feel it is important to highlight that there is help out there from the charity and other support organisations. Please click on the Cornavirus; News and advice link below to have a look at our website for more information.
I have also recorded a short relaxation video which you may find helpful. It’s on our website and you can view it here. Our CEO Liz was responsible for the editing and putting the lovely pictures of the hospice gardens on the video, I think she did a fantastic job and a much better one than I could have done!
Working with Cardiff and the Vale UHB Health Professionals and District Nurses
Last weekend I worked the Bank Holiday with the out-of-hours (OOH) GP, I was supporting our own palliative service. I apologise that there were some teething problems with the phone line but it was out of anyone’s control and everyone acted really quickly to resolve this. The GPs and staff working in OOH are a lovely bunch of admin and health professionals, they always make us feel very welcome.
It was a very busy weekend with our nurses, Stevie and Clare out visiting and supporting patients in the community. Equally busy were the District Nurses who also continue to work and visit patients in their own homes both in and out of hours. We have always worked closely with the District Nurses and we all at City Hospice value their support. They like us are having to adapt to a new ways of working.
Helping to keep our team and our community safe
The City Hospice building
remains our hub for all clinical and admin staff. We are very aware of social distancing and encourage staff to spread out around the building. The team are very good in supporting each other, it is their safe place. Therefore we realise we are lucky to have each other along with all the admin staff. I have to be honest and say that the staff still worry about the unknown and the uncertainty of the current situation. I am sure like you, it comes in waves of anxiety and we all just want calmer waters.
When out visiting patients the clinical team find wearing masks a barrier to communicating, with both patients and families. But for your protection and ours we must continue to do this along with aprons, gloves and sometimes a visor. You may see our mini bus out and about in the community. Nick one of our volunteer drivers is helping to transport a doctor and nurse to patient homes. This helps us get around as many patients as possible, on what are often very busy day
Thank you for making us feel special
Lastly the website and the charity’s Facebook and Twitter pages continue to keep you posted on 
what is happening at City hospice. We are grateful for the many people who support City Hospice both in fundraising, lovely words of support and donating special treats for the nurses.
We received a fabulous treat on International Nurses Day when some of our Ambassadors Spiro Borg, Chris Macnamara and Ellis Jenkins got together. They provided a beautiful afternoon tea for us all and Ellis delivered it….much to the delight of the team! We really felt very special indeed!
All of this keeps us going as a team, we will be there to look after our patients, it’s our job, but we all thank you for making us feel special.
