“We will meet again…”

There are moments when we are reminded of the wonder of humanity and right now, seeing the way everyone at The Mac Unit is handling this incredible challenge, is a time we will always remember.

Amidst the Coronavirus crisis, our nurses, doctors and volunteers are showing incredible courage, kindness and selflessness and we could not be more proud of them all. To quote our Trust Secretary, we have “the greatest respect for our colleagues whose dedication and professionalism is always exemplary and whose skills, knowledge and compassion are needed now, more than ever before.”

As you may be aware, our staff and patients have now temporarily moved over to the Derwent Wing at The Royal Bournemouth Hospital in order to manage the increased need for high-quality palliative and end of life care. Macmillan Caring Locally will continue to fund and support the services provided by our inpatient and community teams and support everyone involved throughout this crisis. Please do join us in giving our colleagues an extra big clap on Thursday evenings as we thank our amazing NHS for their incredible work!

We are also very grateful to you – our amazing supporters – who are ever present through these difficult times. The cancellations of fundraising events and challenges means that our finances will be significantly impacted so all your donations to support our team through Coronavirus have been very gratefully received. We miss you all so much so please keep sending your funnies, messages and lockdown activity ideas, photos and videos on our social media channels – they do make us smile ? Maybe you have a great idea for a lockdown fundraiser too?!

We will do our best to keep you entertained and updated about all things MCL. There is, of course, very little to report about our Brick by Brick appeal or any other activities because our priority is obviously to focus on the challenges brought about with Coronavirus. However, do let us know if you have any fabulous fundraising ideas for the future and we will put them into action when we can. Until then, look after yourselves, stay home and stay safe!

We miss you all so much but as Her Majesty said, “we will meet again” and we are very much looking forward to that… street party anyone??

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

photo credit: Debby Hudson

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