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East Midlands hospice gets patients online with free tablets

Words by Smiley Team

Throughout the pandemic, social isolation has become a mounting concern. For people with life-limiting conditions, this isolation also restricts their access to vital support. Patients in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, however, no longer need worry about getting cut off because the counties’ leading end-of-life care charity, Treetops Hospice Care is helping by getting them online. 

The charity has handed out 12 free tablet devices to beneficiaries granting them online access to their services as well as reopening communication with support workers. This includes one-to-one well-being calls as well as virtual meetings with the staff caring for them.

Although initially difficult for the recipients to adjust to, the new technology has granted them the same vital support as before the pandemic, albeit online.

Well-being senior staff nurse at the hospice Ali Jordon said: “It has been a steep learning curve for our patients and technology is something which, these days, we all take for granted. But the outcome has been a positive one and we’re delighted that some of our patients are now able to access our online services. This scheme has enabled them to have face-to-face contact with someone here at Treetops who they recognise and continue to take part in chair-based exercises to keep them moving.”

 

The wonders of online chat

Eighty-four-year-old Harold Jepson, from Chaddesden, is among those who benefitted from the scheme. He said that the technology has allowed him to chat with the people he usually sees at the hospice. This offers a unique opportunity for him to socialise despite the lockdown, seeing as he hasn’t left his house since Christmas. 

He said: “It’s frustrating not being able to get out of the house, but to be honest I’m getting a bit frightened to go out, you hear all sorts of stories. Using my tablet, though, I can now Zoom, and I get to see some of the other patients at Treetops doing it, too. You don’t get the same camaraderie as when you visit the Café, but you do see somebody different.”



Helping to ease the pain

From diagnosis onwards, Treetops Hospice Care provides nursing care and emotional support for adults with life-limiting conditions, and their families. This includes patients with cancer, motor neurone disease and heart and respiratory conditions.

Their dedicated team of nurses provided over 28,000 hours of care to terminally-ill patients last year, working day and night to give much-needed support. Their bereavement counsellors offer sessions to family members, many of whom are young people and children. In addition, the charity’s experts dedicate many hours to training NHS staff about end-of-life care and bereavement support.


To help their staff continue this important work, you can donate via their website, which offers the option of making a one-off or monthly contribution. They rely heavily on a team of volunteers to keep operating smoothly. If you’d like to offer your time and skills email [email protected] or visit the volunteering page for more information.

This article aligns with the following UN SDGs

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