“Donate if you can for our new Equipment Van” And support end of life care services

20th November 2017 9:45 am

Photo: shows Lucy French and Leanne Ryder Equipment Assistants loading the current Equipment Van

 

Paul Sartori Hospice at Home is appealing for donations towards a replacement Equipment Van to support its end of life care services delivered in Pembrokeshire.  This van will enable people with a life limiting illness to continue to receive items, often urgently, to prevent admission to hospital or accelerate discharge and enable them to die at home in the comfort of their own home, surrounded by those they hold dear.

A crowdfunding campaign will be running from Monday 6^th November until Tuesday 5^th December to invite people to pledge any amount towards the replacement Equipment Van.  This crowdfunding appeal is for £3,000, which is a contribution of the total amount needed.  Other funds will be sourced from raffle ticket sales, grant applications and a donation has already been received from The Freemasons’ Grand Charity.  This campaign, the first of its kind for Paul Sartori, will help towards replacing the Equipment Delivery Van, which is going to cost around £27,000.

“The van, not only delivers essential equipment to people with life limiting illnesses in Pembrokeshire, but the Equipment Nursing Assistants who deliver items can also transfer patients and give instructions on the use of items provided”, said Pat Coombs Clinical Coordinator and Equipment Facilitator, “The new Van will make these urgent deliveries of items, often same day to patients, which are critical to prevent their admission to hospital or expedite discharge,” added Pat.

The Equipment Delivery Van provides a rapid response service to enable patients to either be discharged from hospital or prevent their admission and supports their wish to die at home.  Paul Sartori Hospice at Home is passionate about delivering services which make a real difference to people living in the final stages of a life limiting illness as well as their families, friends and carers.

“This crowdfunding campaign is a great opportunity for individuals or businesses, locally or further afield to support this high profile charity.  Over 375 people in Pembrokeshire benefitted from 1,147 pieces equipment being delivered by the team during 2016/17 and contributions towards this van is vital to continue this efficient service,” explained Judith Williams, Project and Funding Coordinator at the Paul Sartori Foundation.

“This year is also a big year for us, as we celebrate our 35^th anniversary.  A few benefactors have helped us along with the campaign and so far we have in excess of £10,000.  We are looking forward to achieving our goal!  We encourage people to visit and give on our LocalGiving website, https://localgiving.org/appeal/paul-sartori-hospice-at-home-equipmentvan.  Supporters can also give at our Sartori Stores or at our Head Office, not forgetting to state that they would like their donation to support the Equipment Van” added Judith.

The services provided by the Paul Sartori Hospice at Home Service enable people in the later stages of any life limiting illness to be cared for at home with dignity, independence, pain free and surrounded by those they hold most dear; providing a range of services including home nursing care, equipment loan, complementary therapy, bereavement and counselling support, clinical nurse specialist in palliative care, physiotherapy, advance care planning and training.

Further information on the charity and its services can be obtained by visiting their website www.paulsartori.org, or by phoning 01437 763223.

 

Judith Williams, judith@paulsartori.org Paul Sartori Hospice at Home Service, tel: 01437 763223 (6^th November 2017)

Notes to Editors, Paul Sartori Hospice at Home Service:

• is particularly keen to dispel the belief that it is a ‘cancer charity’ as this deters people with other life-limiting conditions from contacting the Paul Sartori Foundation (approximately 35% have a non-cancer diagnosis)
• operates an open referral system with over 15% of referrals from patients, family and friends. The biggest referral group is District Nurses, followed by Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Specialists and hospital staff
• was established in memory of Father Paul Sartori, a much loved local priest, who recognised a need for hospice care, but unfortunately died of cancer at the age of 39. The Foundation was set up in his memory and provides care to people with any or no faith, and not just Catholics
• charity was registered in 1982 and celebrates its 35^th anniversary in 2017