Pendleside Hospice COVID-19 Response

In response to the ongoing COVID-19 situation, Pendleside Hospice is continuously implementing alterations and plans in order to protect the safety and well-being of its patients, staff, volunteers and community. The Hospice is adapting each day to follow Government and NHS guidelines. This may change on a daily or even hourly basis, so if you are involved with, or planning to come to the Hospice, please check back regularly for the latest information and advice.

Inpatient Unit 

Visiting Procedures

Time: 2pm – 8pm  (Monday to Sunday)

Testing: All visitors (regardless of vaccination status and over the age of 11 years) must provide evidence of a negative lateral flow test (LFD) each day they visit. This means that if you are visiting daily, then daily testing must be performed.

Visitors are no longer exempt from Lateral Flow Testing if they have had COVID within the last 90 days.

LFD results must be registered at https://­www.­gov.­uk/­report-covid19-result and evidence shown to reception (text message or email from NHS) prior to being allowed access.

Lateral Flow Testing kits can be ordered from https://­www.­gov.­uk/­order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests or by ringing 119 if you do not have online access. They can also be collected from a local pharmacy who stocks them.

We do have a small stock of Lateral Flow Test kits available from the Hospice to support self testing whilst visitors are waiting for NHS kits to be delivered

Number of Visitors: Each patient will be asked to nominate up to 4 people for their visitors list which must not be amended or exceeded. Children must be included in the list of 4 unless under the age of 5 years.

A maximum of 2 people are allowed to visit at any one time, preferably from the same household e.g 2 Adults or 1 Adult and 1 Child. All visitors (over the age of 11 years) must show evidence of a negative Lateral Flow Test and the test must be dated on the day of the visit.

Ideally visits should be limited to 1 hour.

Waiting Areas: Waiting areas are CLOSED - Visitors are not permitted to wait on the corridor, conservatory, lounge or reception area and must wait outside the building. 

Hand Hygiene: Visitors must use Alcohol hand gel when entering the building and when leaving the building.

Temperature checks: All visitors must check their temperature when checking in at reception. Any person with a raised temperature will not be permitted to visit.

PPE: All visitors must wear gloves, apron and surgical mask. These must be put on before entering the patients room.

Apron and gloves must be removed before leaving the patients bedroom and washing hands immediately.

Surgical masks must be removed before leaving the building followed by use of alcohol hand gel.

Food­/Drink: Visitors are not permitted to eat and/or drink in the patients bedroom.

Patients with COVID: Visiting is not permitted during the 10 day isolation period except in exceptional circumstances, for example, if the patient was believed to be in the last day or hours of life. Further information will be discussed on an individualised basis.                       

Swabbing patients: All patients are screened for COVID on admission, including swabbing. Visiting may not be permitted until the results of the swab are received – usually 24 hrs.

Visitors with COVID: Any visitor who tests positive for COVID will not be allowed to visit in any circumstances within their 10 day isolation period

Contact with COVID-19: If the contact is with a COVID-19 patient in the Hospice or Hospital – you must speak with the Nurse in charge who will provide advice on testing and self-isolation requirements

Fully Vaccinated Visitors: Any fully vaccinated visitor who is a contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 is advised not to visit the Hospice, except in exceptional circumstances e.g end of life visiting. If a visit is necessary, the visitor must provide a negative LFD test on the day of each visit for up to 10 days from the date of contact.

Unvaccinated Visitors: Any unvaccinated visitor who is a contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 must self-isolate for 10 days and will not be permitted to visit in accordance with national guidance.                                                  

Unwell visitors:  Any visitor who is unwell must not visit the Hospice. Any visitor who has COVID symptoms must self isolate and arrange a COVID test as soon as possible.

End of Life Visiting: Patients who are in the last days of life will be allowed visiting outside of the visiting times. A maximum of 2 people are allowed to visit at a time and is not restricted to the list of 4 people.  All other restrictions remain in place including daily lateral flow tests prior to each visit.

Social Outings: Patients may be permitted to go home for short periods of time but this must be discussed and agreed with the Nurse in Charge. They may be required to undergo further PCR testing following a home visit.

In order to limit transmission of COVID-19 on our Inpatient Unit, avoid Hospice closure and to protect our patients, staff and volunteers, patients will not be permitted to go out on social outings to crowded places e.g Restaurants, Pubs, high occupancy households etc.

Outdoor Visiting: Patients can arrange to meet their friends and family within the outdoor visiting areas – weather permitting. This should be booked by prior arrangement by speaking to the Nurse in Charge. Visitors are required to show evidence of a negative LFD test, taken on the day of the visit.

 

Visiting restrictions are reviewed on a regular basis and subject to change in line with local and national guidance.


Pendleside lends a friendly ear

Our Family Support team are available to provide telephone support to any family, please ring 01282 440102. If you have any concerns, please speak with a member of staff.

At Pendleside hospice we have a counselling team for people affected by bereavement, not just those that have lost someone at Pendleside, but anyone in our community.

During these difficult times, we would like to offer anyone that feels they need support to get in touch so that we can try to help them manage current events. Whereas we cannot offer advice, we would be happy to talk to support anyone who is affected by the COVID-19 outbreak and consequences. This can include anxieties, loneliness, coping with isolation and/or coping with changes to their lives at as a result of self-isolation; as well as our typical remit of bereavement. For some, this could be just simply someone to talk to.

All of our counsellors are experienced, qualified and BACP registered, if you feel you need to talk to someone please call 01282 440102 Monday to Friday from 9am-5pm. We have a private voicemail so if you need to leave a message you can do so safely and with confidentiality assured.