What Matters Most

And just like that, Autumn arrived. For many of us, it’s been back to school, back to work, back to a bit of normality but as expected, with the change of the season comes further change with Covid-19 restrictions.

Our team at Macmillan Caring Locally are looking to the future and trying to decide what is best for our supporters regarding fundraising plans and events over the next few months and it is clear that the continuing restrictions will have an impact on charitable giving. However, there are still plenty of ways that everyone can get involved and do something fun to raise some much-needed funding for your local hospice….

Our Coffee Morning packs are still available so please sign up if you can. We do appreciate it’s not quite the same with the government restrictions but if you are able to hold a Coffee Morning while following guidelines or perhaps you can ‘meet’ online then please contact us for a pack. Oh, and do send us photos of all the cakes please!!

Lace Up is a great way to keep active and set yourself a challenge (big or small) while we are unable to take part in physical events. Set yourself a target to run, walk or cycle a chosen distance and get your friends and family to sponsor you. It can even be done on an indoor bike or treadmill if it’s getting a bit chilly outside! Check out our Facebook page to find out more and register now!

Staff at the Mac Unit have been working hard to make sure our patients and their families continue to receive the highest standard of care and support despite the challenges brought about by the pandemic and its associated restrictions. Our team always have a particular focus on “what matters most” for our patients and strive to ensure that they are able to live out their one last dream or do what they can to take care of what matters for each individual.

The Day Centre also provided a place for patients to make some happy memories and feel supported and understood. Unfortunately, we had to close our Day Centre in March due to the pandemic and it is unlikely to be open again for some time yet. Patients were missing the social interaction, fun and light-heartedness which offered a distraction from their day to day worries as well as a safe space to talk about their illness. The value of the Day Centre was put into words by one patient: “I was dying until I came to the Day Centre and now I am living.” The team have kept in regular contact with the patients, offering support and advice and now they are hoping to introduce some virtual Day Centre services in order to meet the needs of our patients through the pandemic. We hope to secure funding and equipment to make this possible in the very near future!

Just before we go, if you haven’t already entered, we have a prize draw to win a one week stay at a beautiful cottage in Devon for up to seven people! To grab your ticket, head to our website www.macmillanlocal.org/donations/macmillan-caring-locally-prize-draw – the draw will take place on Friday 30th October at 4pm…. Good luck!!

We’ll be back next month with more news, details about what’s happening and how you can get involved but for now we wish you a beautiful start to the autumn and hope that you are keeping well and happy through these turbulent times. Please keep in touch and don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to keep up with all the latest.

Anyone that wishes to make a donation can do so on our website at www.macmillanlocal.org/make-a-donation and if you haven’t already signed up to our newsletter, you can do so at www.macmillanlocal.org/subscribe. You can also read our appeal for support through the Coronavirus at www.macmillanlocal.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Covid-appeal-260320.pdf

List of pharmacies 

 Pharmacy name and address

Phone Number

100 hour pharmacy

 Locality

Asda Pharmacy

St Pauls Road, Bournemouth,BH8 8DL

01202 298900

Yes

Bournemouth East

Castle Lane Pharmacy
482 Castle Lane West Bournemouth, BH8 9UD

01202 772110

Yes

Bournemouth West

Ferndown Pharmacy
487 Ringwood Road, Ferndown, BH22 9AG

01202 892666

Yes

East Dorset

Tesco Extra Pharmacy
Yarrow Road, Mannings Heath Poole, BH12 4NX

01202 457447 or 01202 367447

Yes

Parkstone

Asda Pharmacy
West Quay Road, Poole, BH15 1JQ

01202 207000

Yes

Poole Central

Equipment – www.redcross.org.uk Is useful for wheelchairs and other equipment

Guide for people nearing end stage of life : https://intranet.rbch.nhs.uk/uploads/palliative/documents/What-to-Expect.pdf

Brief Drugs List for GPs

 

Pain/breathlessness:

Morphine sulphate 2.5-5mg SC PRN (10mg in 1ml injection)

(alternative if taking PO or eGFR<30 – Oxycodone 1 – 2.5mg SC PRN (10mg in 1ml injection))

[Please take background opioid into account when prescribing doses for anticipatories]

Anxiety/distress:

Midazolam 2.5-5mg SC PRN (10mg in 2ml injection)

Secretions:

Glycopyrronium 200mcg SC PRN (600mcg in 3ml injection)

(alternative for secretions: Hyoscine Butylbromide 20mg/ml injection)

Nausea :

Levomepromazine 6.25mg SC PRN (25mg in 1ml injection)

(alternative for nausea: Haloperidol 1.5mg SC PRN (5mg in 1ml injection)

Water for injection

Dexamethasone 3.3mg SC OD-BD (equivalent to 4mg PO) if risk of steroid withdrawal/Addisons during terminal phase.

Day/Time Example Timetable
Monday – AM

9am MMU Ward Hand over; 9:30am Tour of MMU

10m Consultant Ward Round, MMU

Monday – PM

12pm Ward Nurses – syringe driver administration (treatment room)

1:30 Nursing Handover – MMU (ward office)

MMU – Admission Assessment(s) with ward doctor

Tuesday – AM

9am Ward Hand over

9:20am Referrals Meeting on MMU

10am Community visiting with Specialist Nurse

Tuesday – PM

12:30 Journal Club – MMU (doctors office)

2pm Introduction to Patient and Family Support Team

3pm Introduction to Welfare and benefits Advisor

Wednesday – AM

9am Ward Hand over

9:20am Referrals Meeting on MMU

10am Consultant ward round – MMU

Wednesday – PM

2pm Doctor/Nurse Home Visit with Specialty Doctor

Thursday – AM

9:15am Multi-Disciplinary Team Meeting on MMU

Thursday – PM

2pm Introduction to Palliative Rehabilitation with Physiotherapist

3pm Introduction to Complex Discharge Planning in terminal illness

Friday – AM

Hospital Palliative Care Team Ward Visits

Friday – PM

2pm Introduction to Personalised Care Plan for the Last Days of Life with End of Life Care Nurse

4pm Debrief / sign off