Dr Kershaw’s Needs Your Help More than Ever

Royton based Hospice, Dr Kershaw’s are asking their local community to help after Covid-19 pandemic and tougher restrictions for GM hits their plans to furnish the soon to be complete, new In-Patient Unit.

With the building of their new In-Patient Unit well underway and with a September opening in sight, the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent harsher restrictions couldn’t have struck at a worse time for the Oldham based Hospice.

The unprecedented delays have caused additional spend to the project, with work stopping for over a month at the beginning of lockdown and now continuing but at a much slower pace due to social distancing and Covid safety measures on site.

The Hospice which needs £9,000 a day to be able to provide the dedicated support and care for its patients has seen a steep decline in donations since Covid hit in March, and the stricter Covid-19 Tier 3 regulations will make fundraising efforts even more challenging.

The delays on site combined with a reduction in fundraising activities has left the Hospice with an unexpected shortfall of £601,352, with part of this attributed to kitting out their in-patient lounge.

As a result, Ward Sister, Kelly Foster, is spearheading the Furnish with Love – Give the Gift of Comfort appeal to raise funds to buy the specialist furniture needed for the new in-patient lounge area within the new facility.

So far this year, Dr Kershaw’s Hospice has been able to provide care for 418 patients and their families living within Oldham. The new In-Patient Unit will expand upon this providing an increased patient capacity with modern, dignified and private facilities that Dr Kershaw’s patients’ deserve.

Kelly explains: “Like everyone in our community, this pandemic has had a huge effect on the Hospice, our first priority, as always, has been patient care.  The whole team has risen to every challenge to ensure that our patients come first.” 

“With hospice services working well, our attention turned to the building of the new In-Patient Unit, which has been delayed due to the pandemic by a few months with unexpected additional costs.

"Our plan for the facility to be ready by the New Year is well on track but the funds for the internal all-important furnishings are still very much needed, so we’re asking our community to find it in their hearts to help.”

 “Our vision is to create a lounge that is a home from home, for patients to relax in with their family and friends.  We want to add to our patients’ comfort and safety as they spend time with their loved ones, providing a place where they can have precious time together, creating special forever-memories.”

The in-patient family lounge will be a combination of areas, from cosy corners furnished with coffee tables and chairs, comfortable sofa spaces and even a dining room area with a large table and chairs for a family to sit and eat together.

Dr Kershaw’s Hospice are reaching out to the community to make a contribution towards the purchase of these specialist items, furniture that is similar to the furniture you have in your own home but with differences in that they must follow strict health and safety guidelines.

Community support for this initiative is vital to ensure that patients and their families can have their precious moments in a special, comforting environment.

Everyone in the community can help by making a donation or organising their own Furnish with Love fundraising activity, whether you’re staging a virtual quiz, taking on a virtual 5k, asking your friends and family to sponsor your own fundraising or spreading the word and asking others to donate.

£30 could help towards the gift of a comfortable armchair to support a grandma as she sits to hold her grandchild for the first or perhaps, the last time. Your help means that Dr Kershaw’s Hospice can give the ‘Gift of Comfort’ to their patients, both now and in years to come.

To make a donation towards the purchase of these much needed furnishings and to find out more about the appeal, simply visit the website www.drkh.org.uk/support-us/furnishwithlove or call the team on 0161 624 9984.

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