Hub issue 213 August

050.80.70.51.920

UPDATE JULY/AUG

7 August 2020

KHH Supporters Flying High for the Hospice!

We never fail to be amazed at the sheer
determination and courage of our supporters in their
amazing efforts to raise money for Katharine House.
Jack Stone completed his tandem skydive in July in
memory of his Grandad who was cared for by the
hospice and he’s raised an amazing £2,234!
We can't wait to see Eva Hancock's next update on
her cycling challenge from Land's End to John
O'Groats! She's taken on this amazing at home
challenge to raise money for KHH and she's already
hit more than double her initial target!
9 year old Eva, who has ankle dysplasia, has even more of a difficult task as she needs to make sure she keeps
her ankle straight as she's cycling. But she's got the help of an app to keep her on track and point out all the
interesting places she passes on route. https://www.justgiving.com/fuSntedllraaMisainchgi/nemvaaskcinygcfliancge.mBasrykasn Hynes one of
the driver team from Zero Seal Systems is taking on a gruelling triathlon for KHH http://ow.ly/WMbf50ADLHj and
Emma Kelly will be running 30 miles between Father Hudson’s Care and Katharine House. https://bit.ly/2Dt1DEf
Congratulations and thanks also go to Barbara Wetton of the Rotary Club of Stafford Knot for her amazing 100 mile
walk for KHH … round and round her garden during lockdown! Barbara's fantastic efforts raised a wonderful £1744!
Over £1000 was used to purchase social distancing screens and hand sanitiser to help our shops reopen with the
remainder going directly to support the hospice, our patients and families.

Find our more about our amazing supporters inside along with our latest

KHH Coronavirus update

Hospice Update

Relaunching services

A number of our services are moving forward as lockdown eases. We have sought to ensure that the
actions taken are balanced with the need to ensure the safety and wellbeing of patients and staff.

LymLypmhopehdoeemdeama

During lockdown Mel Cotterill has done a huge amount to support those we
care for with lymphoedema, however this has all had to be done
remotely. For some patients this is not sufficient, so it is good news for this
group that we are re-opening the clinic in a limited way to allow some face-to-
face contacts. Our initial priority will focus on patients whose lymphoedema
is associated with a cancer diagnosis and who need a direct therapeutic
intervention, or treatment.

CouCnosuenllsinegllinSgerSveircveisces

During lockdown we have continued to offer counselling services via video Keeping connected via the internet
conferencing. However, there are some patients who either do not have the
technology to do this, or who are not comfortable with discussions being held
using this technology and would only want face to face support. As the clinic
reopens for lymphoedema, so will our counselling service allow a limited
number of face-to-face sessions. We will continue to offer more counselling
via the internet.

WWeelllBlbeeininggDDayay

The Wellbeing Day courses at the hospice have been cancelled during
lockdown. Cathy Browning and the day therapies team have now developed a
programme that can be delivered remotely. This includes watching pre-
prepared videos, holding group sessions via video-conferencing to discuss the
videos and to share with each other their experiences. There are specific
sessions on a range of topics, including the management of a variety of
symptoms:

Pain – Fatigue – Breathlessness – Anxiety – Mobility – Nausea

The service relaunched on 4 August with the first group of 5 patients. We will
monitor how this goes and seek to improve our delivery of a virtual service
through feedback from the first groups.

Suzanne Hayward with our new headsets

Our Ask the Boss feature will
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Ask The Boss.

Antibody Testing

The hospice now has access to a limited number of Covid-19 antibody tests. We are prioritising clinical and
care staff who have worked throughout the lockdown or staff who regularly visit the hospice.

The tests themselves will simply identify whether antibodies are present. If they are it indicates the person
has had exposure to the virus that causes Covid-19, although there may have been no symptoms.
A positive test does not mean someone is immune to the virus. A negative test does not mean that someone
has not had the virus as it can take up to 40 days for the antibodies to develop.

Covid-19 is a new disease, and understanding is limited about the body’s immune response to the disease.
For example, it is not known how long an antibody response lasts, nor is it known whether having antibodies
means you can’t transmit the virus to others, nor is it known whether you are protected against re-infection
with the virus. However, it will give us some indication of the proportion of staff who may have been infected.

Furlough Update

Please be aware that for any staff who are asked to remain on furlough, after 31 July 2020, the Board of
Trustees have agreed to continue to top up salaries, even though the government contribution is reducing.

In addition the Board have asked that we consider that where there is insufficient work, in an individual’s
regular role, we consider opportunities to redeploy, temporarily, to support other areas of the charity. This will
of course be discussed with staff prior to arrangements being made.

Hospice Refurb Update

The reception area at the hospice is being refurbished, together with
flooring leading into day therapies. We are refreshing what has become
a “tired” area of the building and creating more useable spaces.
Incorporated in these changes is the relocation of the General Office
downstairs. Thanks to the sterling work of the maintenance team our
costs have been kept down and the costs we have incurred have been
funded. We decided to carry out the work at this time as it is relatively
quiet due to the lower footfall through the building following Covid-19.

We are also carrying out a much needed upgrade to our fire alarm
system. The Day Therapies system dated from 1993 and the IPU from
2000. Whilst partially integrated, they will now be fully integrated and
the system enhanced and modernised. Again we have carried out this
disruptive work at a time when the hospice is relatively quiet.

Thank you again to every one of you for the part you are
playing, as we work together to find our way through
these difficult times.

We will keep you updated, through the staff-information
page on the website.
www.khhospice.org.uk/content/staff-information

Retail Update

Shop Re-openings

Most of the shops have now re-opened! Thank you to
all the staff and volunteers who have returned during
these difficult times. Uttoxeter and Hednesford will re-
open week commencing 3 August which will just leave
Stoke as the last shop to re-open. Stoke has been
delayed as it has been used as a warehouse for other
shops, there will be a shop layout change and we are
recruiting a new Shop Manager.

Since the shops have begun re-opening we have insisted on face covers. This did cause issues in some shops.
Now that wearing a face cover is legislation I am pleased to say many of these issues have gone and the vast
majority of the public are following the rules.

The wish to continue to donate goods to the shops remains high. Many shops are sporadically accepting and
then stopping donations as they reach capacity. Donations that we receive need to be either cleaned before
going on sale or put into quarantine for 48 hours before being processed. Our collection and delivery service is
back in operation but it will be some time before we get back to pre-Covid levels.

Uttoxeter Shop

Many will know our Uttoxeter shop is branded as a
Uttoxeter Cares shop.
As part of a three way partnership the shop in Uttoxeter
helped to support the Uttoxeter Cares project. The shop is
in The Maltings and this part of the town has changed
dramatically, and now there is little foot flow past the shop.
Before Covid-19 we planned to go to the landlord and ask to
change the tenancy agreement to a tenancy at will. The
landlord did not agree to this and we felt there was no other
option but to terminate the lease.

I know the team in the shop, led by Shelia, have done everything they could and I don’t feel anything more could
have been done to try and stop this. The shop will run a closing down sale for a couple of weeks and will close
mid-August. My thanks to all the team that have supported this shop.

Sales

Whilst it is very early doors the shops sales are behind last year’s levels and I am heartened to see the retail
team doing all they can to help increase income. At present there is no plan to change the new opening hours,
but this is under constant review. Additional time is required to meet the new health and safety and Covid-19
secure requirements. My thanks to all the shop teams in maintaining high standards and delivering great
customer service. I am pleased when I see the shop teams doing all they can to make sure customers, visitors,
staff and volunteers are all able to shop in a safe and friendly environment.

Covid-19 Secure Workplaces
We are working to ensure all workplaces are compliant with government guidelines.

If staff have concerns or suggestions please email [email protected]

TOhuerBVigE PDiacnyicC!elebrations!

Thanks to everyone who joined us for The Big Picnic our
latest staff and volunteer get together on zoom! Thanks to
Nigel and Richard too as our comperes and also for their
ingenuity in producing the summer and picnic themed
quizzes!!

It was great to catch up and see all those we hadn’t seen
for a while. Thanks again for bringing your drinks,
sandwiches, sunnies and summer hats to the party!

Our Headsets Have Arrived!

Good news! We've received our new headsets and webcam!
They'll be used to provide remote care and support to our
patients who can't access the hospice in person due to
coronavirus restrictions. And they'll help our staff to keep in
touch too!

A huge thank you to The Community Foundation for
Staffordshire with funding from the NET Coronavirus
Appeal who enabled these and other vital IT purchases.
We can't thank them enough for their help - it means so much
to our patients and their families!

Big Thanks to the Big Shop! Karl and Shane

A special message from Di Holland-Martin to her team …

I would like to thank all of my staff at the Cannock Big Shop for going
above and beyond since we re-opened, their dedication has been 2nd to
none and they have coped fantastically with donations on Tuesdays and
Thursdays. A a special mention to Karl and Shane who have been

accepting donations for us at
the back door and have been
constantly asking donors to Gift
Aid their items, last week we
saw a rise in Gift Aid to 26%
and overall our takings are
consistently just over £8,000. I
have an excellent management
team and an excellent retail and
van driver team, I just want to
say thank you to each and
every one. Di Holland-Martin
Cannock Big Shop

Sharon Peach and Tina Radford

Thank yous!

We never fail to be amazed by the sheer determination of our
supporters! On 27 June Richard Greaves a coach from This is
Fitness Stafford completed an amazing challenge by running a
marathon, cycling 100 miles and shaving his head all in one day!

Now inspired by his achievements over 40 members of the gym will be
taking on running, cycling and and walking challenges all on 8 August!
From 50 mile bike rides, to 12 hour walks and half marathons. Their
idea is to raise as much money for charity as they can while also
achieving their fitness goals! Find out more about The Big This Is
Fitness Charity Challenge here
https://www.justgiving.com/fundra…/thebigtifcharitychallenge

A big thank you also goes out to Andrew Whittaker and PP Control
and Automation for a generous donation of visors for our staff! Much
appreciated by everyone! And to KHH volunteers Heather and Bob,
pictured left, for receiving the donation on our behalf! Also to Robin
Bartram-Brown of Masksafe for much needed non medical masks.

We are also most grateful to all the lovely ladies and sewing teams
who are helping us out by making face coverings for our staff and for
us to sell in our shops. Some of our latest have been supplied by
Stella Machin, Rose Cowley and the Stafford Lions, Joyce Hardy,
Denny Shortland, Theresa Mcgahan Clenton, Jen Wren, Mary Hill
(below middle), Antonia Hughes, Helen Parsons, Donna Walker,
Alison Walker (below left), Christine Perrin, Katie Elizabeth, Kim
Attwood & Sewing for the NHS Wolverhampton and Telford,
Anne Bird, Emma Lewis and Samantha Poxon-Prout.

Thank you to each and every one of you!
Many thanks also to Sadie Albertelli a lovely lady aged 92 who has
knitted us some spare ear savers ❤️

And finally a big Bhangra thank you to Juhi Bhatia Singh (right)
and all the lovely Bhangra ladies from BhangraBlaze Stafford for
their wonderful £200+ donation! And Café Society, New Beacon
Campus Stafford for their lovely gift of drinks and treats for our staff.

As we begin to come out of lockdown, many of us are faced with both challenges and opportunities. Whilst
we may now be able to see family and friends in person, play sport or return to work and volunteering, many
of us may find that even the happy, longed for changes can be difficult for our mental health. The idea of
coming out of lockdown when the scientific debate about this is ongoing, may be worrying for some.
Just as it took us time to find ways of coping during lockdown, we should expect that it will take time to find
our way back and to reconnect with life, and we should be prepared for the fact that the end of lockdown
might be as hard for us as the start was.

When we were in complete lockdown we were all in the same boat. Even though the boundaries were tight
we knew exactly where they were. Now the world might be feeling like an insecure place, especially when
we hear about local outbreaks, causing anxieties about what is safe.

Because our situations are unique to us, it is really important to try not to judge ourselves harshly, based on
what other people are doing. Everybody is facing uncertainty and challenge and we have no choice but to
move through it as best we can.

Fear and anxiety are common emotional responses any of us may feel as we approach the release of
lockdown. Every time we go back to something it is going to feel unusual or even scary. We might feel
nervous or anxious.

That might be because we haven’t done it in a while
and we’ve forgotten how it feels – like going to work
or volunteering. It might be because things have
changed because of the pandemic and routines have
changed – like wearing facemasks and one way
systems in shops.

It’s important to acknowledge that these feelings are
reasonable and to expect them. It’s only by building
up tolerance gently that we can move through these
fears. Take things at your own pace but try and
challenge yourself to try something different each
day or every couple of days.

It’s very easy to allow the seclusion that was
necessary in lockdown to become deliberate isolation
as lockdown ends. Celebrate small wins (and big
wins) and try and keep a note of what you are
achieving. And always remember to be kind to
yourself!

If you are struggling with anxiety or anything else
right now, our Employee Assistance Programme is
available on 0800 107 6585, scheme number 72740.
Other resources are detailed on the staff and
volunteer wellbeing page of our website
https://www.khhospice.org.uk/content/your-well-being

See more

Vacancies Starters:
We currently have the following vacancies: Vicki Darlow – Catering Assistant, Norton Bridge
Claire Harrington-Ganes – Healthcare Assistant, IPU
Registered Nurse – In Patient Unit, closes 11 Aug
Healthcare Assistants – Embrace Quality Care, Leavers:
closes 31 Aug Paul Cadman – Store Manager, Stoke
Kristie Davies – Staff Nurse – will remain bank
Full details and application packs are available on Louise Keen – Retail Assistant, Hanley
https://www.khhospice.org.uk/vacancies Sharon Lowe – Healthcare Assistant, Day Therapies
or from the Personnel Office on 01785 218257. Sarah Martin – Cook

Movers:
Helen Loveitt – Store Manager, Newport

Obituary

It is with great sadness that we share the news that Dr John Gibson passed away at home on 17 July.

Dr Gibson joined Katharine House Hospice in early 1999 and made a significant contribution to the hospice and

the development of its services over many years both as a Trustee and then as Chairman. He was instrumental

in supporting the development of both Lymphoedema and Hospice at Home services. He helped to establish the

Embrace Quality Care agency and was a director of the company until his death.
John’s wife, daughter and son were extremely appreciative of all the help and support the hospice’s community

team gave to John and to them in his final days.
Our condolences have been shared with John’s family.

KHH Welcomes New VC

We are pleased to announce that Trustee Terry Mingay has been appointed
as our new Vice Chair.

Terry is a first level registered nurse who has worked in hospital, community,
mental health and learning disability settings. She trained at St Mary's
Hospital Paddington (RGN) and the Maudsley and Bethlem Hospitals (RMN)
in London before returning to her home in the Midlands. She has held a
variety of clinical leadership and management posts in community settings
managing nurses, allied health professionals and localities.

“I am delighted to have been nominated for and appointed to the position of Vice Chair of KHH. As a Trustee for
almost six years I have been privileged to be part of the leadership team of this invaluable local resource and
work alongside so many dedicated, talented people. KHH makes a positive difference to the lives of so many
people and I am honoured to play a small part in this effort. “

The next Hub will be delivered on Friday 4 September 2020.
Email all content to: [email protected]
Content deadline: Friday 28 August 2020.