We launched the end of life ‘Roaming Nurse Service’ in April last year as part of our emergency response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Every evening, the Roaming team – made up of one of our Hospice at Home nurses 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. Our nurses assist with administering medication, helping with pain relief and symptom management.
The £100,000 funding has come from the Barclays 100×100 UK COVID-19 Community Aid Package.
We couldn’t have managed without the Treetops nurses
Matt Ceiley, from Derby, is amongst those who’ve benefited from the Roaming Nurse team. We helped to help care for his late father, Mick:
“The Treetops Roaming Nurse Service were so quick to get there. 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. All you wanted was for him to be more comfortable.
There are some things you can do without, but hospice care isn’t one of them
“We couldn’t have managed without the Treetops nurses who were all so compassionate, professional and knowledgeable. It was so important. It meant we could trust their night-time care, get some rest and be there with dad at the end.
“It’s only when you need these services that you realise how vital they are. There are some things you can do without, but hospice care isn’t one of them.”
Playing a vital role in the UK’s response to the pandemic
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.
“As a bank we have been doing all we can for our customers, clients and colleagues. We hope that by partnering with Treetops and many other charities across the UK, collectively we can ensure that as many people as possible in the communities in which we live and work are supported through this crisis.”
Our Roaming Nurses have made over 900 visits to patients at home
Our Hospice at Home Manager, Teresa Smith, said:
“We are absolutely delighted to receive this significant funding for the Roaming Nurse Service.
“Since the service began, our Roaming Nurses have made over 900 visits to patients at home. This has potentially saved up to 1,000 call outs from the Derby Royal Hospital, the 111 out-of-hours service, and possible hospital admissions.
“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.”
Barclays £100m COVID-19 Community Aid Package is supporting charities that are helping vulnerable people impacted by COVID-19, and the associated social and economic hardship caused by the crisis. Alongside matching colleague donations and fundraising efforts, Barclays is partnering with a number of charities in the UK, Americas, Asia and Europe, delivering help where it is needed most. You can find the latest list of charity partners here.