Derbyshire hospice end-of-life care service receives £100,000 donation

Treetops Hospice Care, launched the roaming nurse service in April last year as part of its emergency response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Every evening, the roaming team – made up of a Treetops Hospice at Home nurse and a healthcare assistant – responds to calls from families with a loved one at the end of life, who has chosen to die at home.

Nurses assist with administering medication, helping with pain relief and symptom management.

The £100,000 funding has come from the Barclays 100x100 UK Covid-19 Community Aid Package.

Matt Ceiley, from Derby, is amongst those who’ve benefited from the roaming nurse team, to help care for his late father, Mick.

He said: "There were times when dad needed pain relief or medication that without the roaming nurses, he wouldn’t have been able to have as quickly."There are some things you can do without, but hospice care isn’t one of them.”

Nigel Higgins, Barclays chairman, said: “Covid-19 has created an unprecedented social and economic impact in the UK, with many experiencing greater hardship due to the crisis.

“Incredible charities, such as Treetops Hospice Care, have been playing a vital role in the UK’s response to the pandemic, ensuring urgent help reaches those most in need of support.

Teresa Smith, Treetops Hospice at Home manager, said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive this significant funding for the roaming nurse service.

“Since the service began, our roaming teams have made over 900 visits to patients at home.

“We support families that might not need a Treetops nurse to sit with their loved one for a whole night but might need to call with a one-off request.

"They now contact the roaming service who can respond quickly and who have an existing knowledge of the patient and their needs.”

To support Treetops, click here.