Pendleside Hospice appeal for protective equipment is answered

The hospice placed an order for personal protective equipment with the NHS when the coronavirus pandemic started to take a hold but because the demand nationally has been so high it has been slow in arriving.

The Facebook appeal last weekend had immediate results but some of the kind offers had to be politely refused because such equipment in the hospice has to be sterile.

But Lisa Pearson, head of income generation, was delighted with the kind heartedness and goodwill shown by dozens of people from across East Lancashire and beyond.

She said: “Within hours of appealing for equipment on facebook we were amazed at the response. Some offers were perfect for us while others, while so very generous, had to be refused because everything we use has to be of a sterile nature.

“We would be delighted to hear from anyone who can help supply PPE for our nursing staff.”

By Monday there had been 392 shares, 40 comments with offers and advice, and 49 likes.

Carolyn Wright and Sandra Taylor offered to make hand-sewn masks while Amanda Ratcliffe had asked friends and family for donations of hand cream to donate for hospice staff to use at the end of the day after continually washing their hands throughout their shift.

Donna Bradley said she had picked up 12 bottles of hand gel from a store in Burnley and that she would drop them off at Pendleside.

And Tracey Telford offered: “I am in Cheshire and run a small business and am happy to help. Our goods will be free of charge. Our daughter is a community nurse.”

Rebecca Antrobus said Rolls Royce Barnoldswick were producing visors for free. “How many would you like,” she asked.

Janet Richardson and Mandy Khan offered medical grade masks and plastic aprons while Darren Horsfield said he had 100 pairs of medium-size sterile medical gloves he could deliver.

Pendleside last week launched its Keep Your Hospice Open campaign and opened a justgiving page at https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/pendlesidecovid19appeal which has so far raised almost £30,000.

The hospice fears losing more than £1m. in fund-raising revenue over the next few months and have already postponed two of their biggest events – the Pendle Pub Walk and the Pendleside Corporate Challenge.

So far Pendleside has managed to maintain three of its main services, the 10-bed inpatients unit, the hospice at home service, and the family services unit. It has had to close its day-services unit to protect both patients and staff from the coronavirus.