Hospice in urgent appeal for support

Published21st April 2020

St Elizabeth Hospice in Ipswich has appealed to the public for support in light of all fundraising events being postponed and all its 31 retail shops closing because of the Coronavirus pandemic.

The clinical staff at St Elizabeth are working in partnership with the NHS and partners to significantly expand its services both in the community and at the hospice in response to Coronavirus, while continuing to care for patients with non-Covid-19 end of life and palliative care needs.

A new rapid response co-ordination centre has been created to cope with the expected increase in demand for clinical advice and end of life care in the community, doubling the capacity of the hospice’s existing OneCall telephone advice helpline.

Last year, the hospice cared for more than 3,000 Suffolk patients and their families at a cost of £10.5m, of which 75% was raised by the community through the shops and local fundraising – income-generating activities which are now impossible due to social distancing and self-isolation.

Chief Executive Ru Watkins has called on the local community to support the hospice’s new “Here Together” appeal to highlight the role of St Elizabeth at the clinical frontline of the current pandemic and to make sure that its end of life care can continue unaffected when the crisis is over: “Every family who has come into contact with our consultants, doctors, nurses, carers and volunteers over the years knows how dedicated they are to our local community. We are still here with our patients delivering the care they need today so ask everyone to support our efforts together.”

To donate to the appeal, visit the hospice Just Giving appeal page https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/SEHCoronavirusAppeal or call the hospice on 01473 723600.