Cash-strapped St Barnabas Hospice calls for urgent help

As the pandemic continues, the hospice’s officials say they have found the past year incredibly difficult.

Despite switching much of its fundraising efforts online and running appeals to make up as much of the shortfall as possible, the Hospice is now losing out on more than £1,000 per day.

Director of Patient Care, Michelle Webb, said: “2020 was incredibly tough on everyone, and there is a lot to be said for how we came through previous lockdowns. As we entered 2021, we hoped we would see things return to normal much more quickly.

“The St Barnabas team, across the whole of Lincolnshire, are still working incredibly hard to give every patient we see the personalised, compassionate care our charity has provided to local people for nearly 40 years now. However, unlike the NHS, we must fund most of our care directly from donations and fundraising.”

As the Hospice’s charity shops are also currently shut, income is simply not there, and its most lucrative fundraising events such as the Colour Dash, Moonlight Walk, and others cannot take place on the same scale as before.

The charity, which operates across Lincolnshire and helps with a variety of services including palliative care, welfare and benefits, grief support and more, has set up an Urgent Care appeal via the website: https://stbarnabashospice.co.uk/careappeal where people can contribute as much or as little as they feel they can afford.

Ongoing events that have been able to continue are still open for registration. You can raise money via the Hospices ‘Don’t Quit, Get Fit’ fitness challenge here https://stbarnabashospice.co.uk/dontquit/, or families and schools can register for the Bunny Hop here: https://stbarnabashospice.co.uk/events/bunnyhop/

There are some people I’m seeing now who haven’t been out since March. The social isolation has had a massive impact on people with health issues – and their families as well. I always try to allow more time to talk to people now – whether they want me to visit (in all my PPE) or just on a call.

St Barnabas Hospice nurse Teresa Carter saw her father supported by her colleagues at home and then in the hospice up until his death a couple of years ago. She said: “Today, we’ve come a long way since the early days of the pandemic – when we could only do the most essential visits. But it’s still so hard; many more people than ever are asking for our help.

“I hope, if you can, you’ll help me and my colleagues to keep caring for local families, helping to lift the weight off their shoulders when it really matters. Your support is a lifeline to so many folks; and our care – and compassion in this dire time – is absolutely crucial.”