The team at Beaumond House has continued to give the best and unique care despite the challenges brought by the pandemic.
Since March 23, when the UK went into full lockdown, Beaumond House has supported 27 in-patients with 332 nights; made 479 day therapy calls and visits and spent 1263 hours supporting 82 patients through Hospice at Home visits. This has been made possible with the incredible support received during this time, not least from the local community.
Head of clinical services Louise Sinclair said they were proud that during the pandemic they had continued to offer the services which help support people living locally.
“Our in-patient unit is well placed to continue to safely support patients who wish to be cared for in the hospice, whether that is a short stay to help them get their symptoms under control, or in the final days of their life, “ she said.
“Being able to visit patients in their own homes with the right PPE through this time has been an essential service for some.”
The team has helped with personal care, advice and support, helping carers and providing extended visits for those who needed more support in the day or overnight. The day therapy team has offered phone and Zoom support as well as doorstep visits and care packages.
“Despite all the challenges that 2020 has brought, and will continue to bring, Beaumond House has remained a constant, reliable and depended place of support,” said Louise.
The chief executive Debbie Abrams said she was proud of what the team had achieved and the way they had remained focused on delivering the very best and unique care.
“However, like the rest of the world, the hospice needs to change and adapt what we do to meet the needs of those who need our services so much,” she said.
“As part of this we have decided to refresh our vision and values and will also be making small changes to our name and logo.”
From 1st September Beaumond House Community Hospice will be called Beaumond House Hospice Care. Debbie Abrams said the changes reflected that the care and support were about much more than the Beaumond House building.
“It represents that many patients wish to receive our support in their own homes,” she said.
The new logo incorporates a heart at the centre to depict the love, support and compassion that is at the centre of our work. It keeps the image of a house, but this no longer specifically depicts the doors of Beaumond House, rather any house or home where they are needed.
The costs associated with the new name and look have been kept to an absolute minimum using in-house expertise and prioritising electronic materials in the first instance.
The visual changes follow a refresh of the organisation’s strategy which enables it to evolve and adapt to a changing world.
Debbie Abrams said that while the overall focus of their care will not change it was sometimes necessary to revise their approach. She said the new strategy would refocus their work and show in a much clearer way what local people can expect when they turn to them for support or to help them.
“What will not change is that Beaumond House places patient safety and choice at the centre of all our work. We have always believed that every moment matters, in life and death, and we wanted this to be much clearer as we set out our vision for the future,” she said.
“We reman so very grateful to this local community for its commitment to us.”