 Sunday 7th June 2009
A great day out for everyone in aid of Weston Hospicecare.
Walk between 10 - 30 miles across the West Mendip Way or a 5 mile Fancy Dress Fun Walk.
In celebration of Weston Hospicecare's 20th anniversary this year , why don't you do
something a bit different and take part in the Mendip Challenge. If you have joined in
before why don't you do a different distance this year?
Why we need your support
As we enter our 20th year of providing palliative care services, it is poignant to
reflect on how many people we have cared for or helped over that period. Community care
has progressed from one nurse visiting people in their own homes, to last year the
Community Team caring for 500 people and completing over 2,000 visits. The In-Patient Unit
in 2008 admitted 155 patients with more than 40% of patients going home. In addition last
year 50 people attended Day Hospice and benefited from the multi-discipline services on
offer, including Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy. We also helped support many
other patients and their families with Bereavement Support, Spiritual Support and
Complementary Therapy. In total last year around 750 people used the services of the
Hospice and we anticipate this figure increasing over the next year.
As you can appreciate in order to provide these services Weston Hospicecare's running
costs are over £2.4 million per year and it receives currently less than 15% public
funding. A donation will help us to provide the care and support that is so obviously
needed for people at such a difficult time in their lives.
Your sponsorship really does make a difference and the approximate costs below
illustrate where the sponsorship money you raise could be spent:
- An electronic bed with a pneumatic mattress which together provides much improved comfort cost £4,500
- A weeks episode in the In-Patient Unit involving the Clinical Team and with all the support costs is some £2,500.
- A very significant cost is maintaining sophisticated equipment. The figure for hoists, beds, baths, boilers and heating exceeds £1,000 each month.
- A syringe driver to administer drugs costs £950
- To sustain a Community Palliative Nurse working alongside primary care colleagues costs some £900 per week.
- A therapeutic day in the Time 4 U clinic costs £80 per person
- It costs £60 per patient day to receive care and support in Day Hospice.
The provision of bereavement and spiritual support are crucial to our holistic care.
It costs a similar figure for colleagues doing these roles to our Community Palliative Nurses.
To register for the Mendip Challenge 2009, please click here.
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