With the national coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis soon expected to reach its peak in the UK, Katharine House Hospice in Adderbury, has rapidly increased its care facility to help cope with the expected urgent need for more community beds in Oxfordshire. We have expanded our 10 bedded in-patient unit to a maximum total of 26 beds to support the national coronavirus response. The Katharine House Response Centre is fully operational from Thursday 16 April.
Katharine House chief executive, Angharad Orchard, said:
“The coronavirus pandemic is an unparalleled health emergency which requires an unprecedented response. As a local provider of specialist care, Katharine House Hospice is well-placed to quickly support the NHS by providing staffing and our facilities during this crisis. We are proud that the Katharine House Response Centre will provide much-needed support to our NHS colleagues and care for people in our community who have been so supportive of our hospice for so many years.
Over the last week we have been working with the NHS and funding commissioners to draw up plans and operationalise these in order to re-purpose our hospice building to enable us to significantly extend our service and accommodate the additional beds and equipment required to support the national coronavirus response.”
Ms Orchard also reassured the community that the hospice would continue to support its current patients, and that local people diagnosed with a life-limiting illness over the coming weeks would still be able to access Katharine House’s services. She added:
“A major consideration for us was how we can care for as many people as possible over the coming weeks and continue to provide as many of our existing services as possible whilst also looking after those diagnosed with coronavirus. During this crisis we have adapted our ways of working to ensure our services are still there for patients and families when they need us. Our teams will continue to ensure a high level of joined up care and support for all our patients.”
The situation is changing rapidly. Katharine House will continue to review its approach in collaboration with local health services, to ensure that its staff and facilities are used in the most effective way possible during these difficult times, to respond to the needs of people in our community who are facing a life-limiting illness.
To support Katharine House Hospice this time, donations can be made at www.khh.org.uk/donate.
