Hospice continues to provide end-of-life care across High Peak during third lockdown

Members of the Helen's Trust Hospice at Home team.

Blythe House Hospicecare and Helen’s Trust’s Hospice at Home service sees healthcare assistants provide specialist support in the comfort of patient’s homes across the community.

Between March and December 2020, the service provided more than 15,589 hours of care, including more than 7,500 hours of night-sits, during 4,337 visits to local homes.

More than 175 patients have received care during the nine-month period, spanning the High Peak, Hope Valley, Derbyshire Dales and north east Derbyshire.

Blythe House Hospicecare – in Chapel-en-le-Frith – has been working in partnership with Helen’s Trust, based in Bakewell, since the beginning of the first lockdown back in March 2020.

Alongside clinical care and support, the hospice’s 40-strong community volunteer team has helped local residents who are elderly, vulnerable or isolated, with practical tasks and companionship including shopping, medication deliveries, telephone support and walking pets.

John Mountain has been recovering from treatment for spinal disc problems, alongside other health issues.

The Chapel-en-le-Frith resident said: "I sought support from Blythe House’s community volunteers during my recovery phase.

"All volunteers I have spoken to have been great, very helpful and friendly, and I know I can always rely on the service.

"Things would have been very different without their help in getting prescriptions collected from the pharmacy and delivered to my home.”

Janet Dunphy, Blythe House and Helen’s Trust CEO, said: “Our Hospice at Home service prevents admissions to hospitals and alleviates pressure on the NHS.

“It enables carers to get some much-needed rest, supports discharges from hospital and provides the calm, confidence and compassion that is so important when people are dying.

“We are immensely grateful to our wonderful local community that continues to support and inspire us every day.

“We cannot wait to see you all again face to face – whenever it is safe for us to do so.”