KCHC Response to COVID-19 - Flipbook - Page 8
Vital support
services
Life after being discharged from an intensive care unit
can be complex and challenging. Dr Tom Best, clinical
director of critical care at King’s, says problems such
memory loss, prolonged anxiety, depression, weight
loss, chronic pain or nerve damage can hinder a
patient’s recovery. But, he says, “The good news is that
with time and the right care, most of these problems
are reversible. And every day we are learning more and
more how to minimise and prevent these problems,
if we apply the highest-quality care”. Thanks to the
Hospital Heroes Appeal, we have been able to fund a
multidisciplinary team who will provide expert care
and treatment for patients leaving intensive care.
Once in place, the team will be fully funded for a year
and will comprise a psychiatrist, two psychologists, a
social worker and a support worker dedicated to the
rehabilitation of these particularly vulnerable patients.
End-of-life care and bereavement support have also become
key priorities. The appeal has enabled family liaison workers
to be put in place to support those whose loved ones are
unwell or have died. Sadly, the pandemic has made it even
more distressing to have a loved one in hospital at the end
of their life. Under strict COVID visitation rules, just one
person is allowed to visit an end-of-life patient in intensive
care. It can be devastating for families to be physically apart
in their final moments. To help ease some of the anguish,
family and friends can at least use the electronic tablets
to see their loved one and say goodbye when they cannot
be there in person. And, of course, our kind and dedicated
staff do everything they can to make sure the patient and
their families are cared for with the utmost compassion.
Douglas, a critical care nurse, says, “Even in death, I see it
as a privilege to be there because it’s their last moment”.
With these bereaved families in mind, we have developed a
system that offers support and solace for everyone who has
lost a loved one at King’s during the pandemic. Condolence
materials and cards are made available to sensitively
communicate with families. We also provide special
packaging for a loved one’s possessions to be returned,
ensuring families receive cherished belongings in a way
that dignifies and respects the life that has been lost.
We had many concerns about the vulnerabilities facing
friends and families who were unable to visit their loved
one in hospital, be with them when they died or observe
traditional rituals around their death. David, head of social
work at King’s College Hospital, understood that the way
in which they offered bereavement support had to be
reassessed, “Around ten per cent of those affected by grief
require additional support – this could be due to issues
such as social isolation or a very unexpected death”.
We have been able to fund the King’s College Hospital
Charity Bereavement Service. Thanks to the appeal
and grants received from NHS Charities Together,
we have commissioned St Christopher’s Hospice to
provide tailored bereavement support for those who
were a friend, partner or relative of someone who died
in our hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic. This
personalised and free service is open to both adults
and children and has also been extended to support
members of staff who have lost a loved one during the
pandemic. Thanks to our funding, qualified counsellors
have been able to provide much-needed therapeutic
information, advice and support. Since September
2020, over 100 referrals have been received and 300
counselling sessions have been completed.
“
I was so grateful for the support I received after my Papa’s sudden death. A
social worker helped me find the closure and support I needed, and I am now
receiving bereavement counselling. I feel heard and understood, and most
importantly I have finally found a conduit to express my grief and manage the
trauma associated with my Papa’s death. I hope this service continues for others
– you’ve made me and my family feel important and part of a caring society.”
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K I N G’ S CO L L E G E H O S P I TA L C H A R I T Y CO V I D -1 9 I M PA C T R E P O R T