Syringe driver appeal

July 22, 2020

Dear North London Hospice Supporter, 

This is likely to be my last formal communication and request to you after 4 years as Director of Nursing and 6 years as Chief Executive, before I retire next month.

First and foremost, thank you all for the wonderful support during the last 10 years and in particular during this outbreak of coronavirus.  On top of the donations, we received PPE equipment to protect our patients and nurses, as well as daily donations of food and treats to keep the team in good spirits.  It has always been so heartening to experience the support of our community and I want to take this opportunity to thank you from the bottom of my heart.

As you may know, the Covid-19 outbreak has had a dramatic impact on the hospice. Despite the recent lifting of lockdown restrictions – some of our retail shops are still closed and our major spring and summer fundraising events have been cancelled – the current crisis is having a huge impact on our ability to raise funds and continue to provide our vital services.

Covid-19 has made funding more difficult than ever, which is why I am asking you to consider whether you can help us purchase some much needed syringe drivers for our patients?

Syringe drivers help to manage a patient’s pain by administering painkillers over a period of time. They are imperative in situations where a patient cannot take painkillers orally due to other symptoms of pain, such as nausea. Our current pumps were purchased in 2012 and the manufacturer has advised us that they have exceeded the recommended life of a unit and should be replaced.  Despite regularly servicing the units, we have found they are failing and require frequent repair. We have no other option but to look for newer, more advanced syringe drivers in order to help our patients.

The T34 pumps syringe drivers would help us to improve our patient’s ability to manage their pain. These are small and lightweight and offer patients flexibility and reliability. They can be easily transferred from the hospice and to homes, so both our IPU patients and community patients will benefit from them- that amounts to roughly 400 people per syringe.

Each syringe driver costs £965 and we have had 6 funded so far of the 30 we require.  We would be grateful for any help you are able to offer. Any donation of any size can be made here:  Donate here.

Finally, it leaves me to say, it has been an absolute honour serving your community.  The support and love for the hospice will remain with me forever in my heart and I hope that I may get an opportunity to see you again sometime in the future.

Thank you!

Yours sincerely

Pam McClinton

Chief Executive