None of us can predict the future...but you can help us prepare and support others to face the unknown
Every single one of us has been affected in some way by the onset of coronavirus in our community, we are all getting to grips with living differently. It isn’t easy, and many of us will be struggling with our own worries.
But imagine having to cope with a new way of living, observing social distancing rules, not being able to see family and friends or having the freedom to come and go as you please, whilst knowing that you only have a few weeks or months left to live.
It’s a distressing reality for many in our community, who are now facing the final stage of their lives shielding from the outside world. It can be frightening, it can be lonely, and it can make you feel very vulnerable. So now, more than ever, our patients and their families need our support and reassurance. St Margaret’s Hospice Care want to do everything we can to make sure that no-one with a life-limiting illness in Somerset suffers alone.
You may already know about our 24-hour adviceline. You might have already had cause to call us. It’s not a new St Margaret’s service, but it’s definitely much busier since lockdown began. With over 20% more calls were answered during the month of April alone, every call is answered by one of our specialist nurses. They provide reassurance, advice and care over the telephone to everyone who needs it. Last year St Margaret’s nurses took 7,627 calls on the adviceline - the busiest times are during weekends or in the middle of the night: when people feel alone and at their most vulnerable.
It’s our frontline of response every day of any year, but it has never been more important than now.
Although the adviceline is a free service for all of our patients and their families, it comes at a cost to St Margaret’s. As a charity, which is not part of the NHS, it’s the continued generosity of the local community that enables us to provide the end of life care that people need.
None of us can predict the future, that’s a lesson we’ve all learned this year. But whatever life throws at us - as individuals or as a hospice - it’s important we can plan for the unknown. So no matter what, we must ensure that dying people in our community receive the best care they can, when they need it, wherever they are in Somerset.
By giving a gift of just £5 each month, you can provide a solid foundation for the future so we can keep on being there for people who need us during the most difficult times of their lives.
Giving by direct debit is a quick and easy way to support St Margaret’s Hospice Care. Spreading your donation across the year in small monthly amounts is convenient for you and allows us to plan for the future because we know, day in day out that we will have a steady income stream that we can rely upon.
Please, if you can, sign up to become a St Margaret’s regular giver today to help us be here for the people you love - 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
You can set up a Regular Gift online today. Simply click www.st-margarets-hospice.org.uk/summer-appeal-2020
Thank you for your support.
