Frontline staff given vaccine and weekly Covid tests

FRONTLINE staff at Primrose Hospice have begun taking weekly asymptomatic Covid tests to keep its patients safe.

Sixteen staff members who have face to face contact with patients and clients have begun self-testing to ensure they do not have the virus.

Last week, all sixteen members of the Care and Family Support teams tested negative after completing the tests at home and sending them off via priority mailboxes.

Fourteen frontline staff members also received their first dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine last week.

Support throughout the pandemic

Primrose Hospice has worked hard throughout the pandemic to continue to deliver its services while keeping staff and service users safe.

It began offering home or site visits with staff wearing full PPE, a virtual hospice service and has strict rules on hand washing and gel, face masks, social distancing as well as a number of staff working from home.

Jenni Luke, Family Support Children's Worker Lead, with the weekly Covid 19 test

Jenni Luke, Family Support Children’s Worker Lead, with her Covid-19 test

David Burrell said: “Primrose Hospice staff have worked incredibly hard throughout the pandemic to ensure that services can continue in the safest way possible.

“Our patients are some of the most vulnerable in our community so it is vital that we make sure they and our staff are protected from this virus.

Pleased

“We are therefore very pleased that our staff who have face to face contact with patients and families can now be tested weekly.

“This adds an extra layer of protection for them and the community we serve.

“We will continue to provide first class end of life care and bereavement support to north east Worcestershire throughout this latest lockdown.”

Supporting the community

Primrose Hospice supported over 1,000 people last year who were affected by either a life-limiting condition or bereavement.

At the same time, it has faced obstacles to fundraise the £1.75million it needs to stay open with events cancelled, its shops temporarily closing and traditional methods of fundraising unable to go ahead.

Currently, the hospice is looking for people to take on a parachute jump or wing walk for the charity and has two spaces available at this year’s Virgin London Marathon in October.

If you would like more information, email enquiries@primrosehospice.org.