The Heart of Kent Hospice: Latest News

Drop-in Centre Starting Monday 6th July

hokh.org — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 11:37:28 GMT

Our Aims

We provide a safe supportive environment for those experiencing terminal illness, their partners, family, carers, friends and those bereaved.

We recognise that isolation, feeling alone or lonely is often a common experience for people who use our Hospice, so we hope that coming together in this setting will be helpful.

What is the Drop-In Centre?

The centre has been set up to provide an informal, fortnightly space where people can come and meet others in similar situations. There is no need to book—just decide on the day if you want to ‘drop-in’. The centre will be open from 10.00am—3.00pm on the first and third Mondays of each month.

Who will attend?

The drop-in is available for carers, and those who have been bereaved. Patients of the Hospice are also welcome but must be self caring as we are unable to provide nursing support. You will each come with your own unique circumstances and the aim of this group is to support you as an individual.

Services Available – these may be different each time but may include:

Complementary Therapies
Hand Massage
Reflexology
Relaxation
Manicure
Benefits Advice / Citizens Advice Bureau Advisor
Demonstrations and Talks
Carers’ Group
Reminiscence Sessions
Spiritual Care

Refreshments

Tea, coffee and home-made cakes are available throughout the day. Lunch will be available but will need to be booked before 11.00am. (There is a nominal charge for food).

Unfortunately we cannot provide transport or a person to sit with patients whilst carers come along, but there are other services available in the area. If you would like information on these, or to discuss the drop-in please contact Annie Baker on 01622 792200, ext. 259 or 260.

WIN A BRAND NEW VW FOX CAR WITH THE HOSPICE LOTTERY

hokh.org — Fri, 15 May 2009 10:13:46 GMT

Here, at The Heart of Kent Hospice, we have decided to celebrate this summer by giving away a Brand New Car as first prize to one lucky winner in our Lottery Summer Super Draw. This wonderful top prize has become available through the generosity of JCB Medway and The Mall Chequers, Maidstone.

In addition to the superb 1st prize of the VW Fox 1.2, there are also 24 cash prizes up for grabs; with a 2nd prize of £1,000, 3rd prize of £250, 4th prize of £100, 5th prize of £50 and 20 prizes of £10 each,

Tickets cost just £1 and there will be numerous opportunities available to see the car and purchase Super Draw lottery tickets at upcoming Hospice events, including the Big Bike Ride, Ascot Ladies Day, Moonlit Walk as well as at the Hospice stand at the Kent County Show being held at Detling Showground.

The Super Draw lucky winner will be selected at random and the winners will be announced live on KMFM radio at Saturday 25th July 2009.

If you are a current lottery member, you will be automatically entered into the Super Draw with your membership number, but why not help to raise more money by collecting some more tickets from the Hospice and selling them to your friends, family and work colleagues. All profits raised from the sale of the lottery tickets go directly towards funding the £3m, which needs to be raised in order to continue providing Hospice services to the community.

You can purchase your lucky Super draw tickets from The Heart of Kent Hospice and at the Hospice shops including Borough Green, Coxheath, Headcorn, Larkfield, Lenham, Senacre, Snodland, Staplehurst, Starnes Court, West Malling and Park Wood.

For more information contact Graeme Pryke, Lottery Co-ordinator on 01622 790195 or e-mail lottery@hokh.co.uk

New training initiative launched thanks to Towergate Insurance

hokh.org — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 12:23:38 GMT

New training initiative launched thanks to Towergate Insurance

The Heart of Kent Hospice has just launched a new training service thanks to a grant from Towergate Insurance. The grant of £8,000 was awarded from the company’s ‘Towergate Innovation in Income Generation’ scheme last year which invited hospice organisations to submit applications for new income generation ideas.

The Hospice’s statutory and mandatory trainer, Julia Eley explained ‘we have wanted to introduce a new training service which can be offered externally to other healthcare organisations locally. Often smaller organisations are unable to deliver this training themselves and have to buy in the training. We are able to offer a bespoke service which is designed with the clients’ organisational needs in mind. The training that we offer is delivered by a training professional at highly competitive rates and all profits will go to benefit the Heart of Kent Hospice.’

The topics we will cover include Health and Safety, Manual handling, Vulnerable Adult abuse, Risk Assessment and Fire Safety.

‘We are very grateful to Towergate for their financial support in enabling us to get this new scheme off the ground and to generate additional much needed income for the hospice’.

STOP PRESS! Forthcoming Carers' Pamper Day

hokh.org — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 13:15:01 GMT

For the last 2 years we, here at the Heart of Kent Hospice, have held a Carers’ Pamper Day during National Carers Week. This is in recognition of all Carers do for those they care for.

This year the Heart of Kent Hospice will be holding a Carers’ Pamper Day on Monday 8th June. These days give Carers the opportunity to meet other people in a similar situation to themselves. We offer relaxation sessions, complimentary therapies, a buffet lunch, afternoon tea and cakes and talks from a guest speaker and our Occupational Therapist. If you would like further details about this, please contact our Family Services Team.

You are also invited to take part in the 2009 Carers Week Survey. Please click on the link for this and complete the survey on line. www.carersweeksurvey.org.uk

Hospice highlights the importance of writing a will

hokh.org — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 10:56:08 GMT

The Heart of Kent Hospice will be launching a ‘make a will’ campaign in January to run until March with leading Kent solicitors, highlighting the importance of writing a will whilst donating to the charity.

If you own a property, are married or co-habiting, have children, dependants or even pets that will require care when you die, it is important that you have a will and this campaign is an opportunity for the residents of Maidstone and beyond to find out more.

The campaign will start on Monday 12th January where we will be working with local solicitors. They will donate a percentage of their fee to the hospice for any standard or mirror will. We are also running a free “Make a Will” week from 23rd-27th February. The solicitors will write a standard or mirror will free of charge. Instead of paying the solicitors fees, the individual will be asked to give a donation to the solicitor which will be passed onto The Heart of Kent Hospice.

The next part of the campaign will take place week commencing Monday 2nd March and will be in the form of a ‘Wills Clinic’. Supporters, patients and their families can book a time to meet with a solicitor at the Hospice to discuss any will related queries and 10% of the solicitor’s fee will again be donated to the Hospice.

Solicitors showing their support and working with the hospice on their Wills Campaign include ASB Law, Burrough’s Solicitors, Whitehead Monckton, Nigel Edwards and Co Solicitors, ** Pengelly & Rylands, Daniel Francis Solicitors and for financial advice- McLaughlin Hook Ltd.

Only taking part in the free will week from 23rd February 2009.

The Hospice hopes that their Wills Campaign will provide people with help and advice which will in-turn help the Hospice. If you would like further details about either of these two events being held in aid of The Heart of Kent Hospice, please contact the Corporate Fundraiser on 01622 790195 or e-mail fundraising@hokh.co.uk.

The solicitors taking part are:

ASB Law, Horizon House, Eclipse Park, Maidstone Kent ME14 3EN 01622 656556 www.asb-law.com

Burrough’s Solicitors 38 King Street Maidstone Kent ME14 1BS 01622 676976 www.burroughs-solicitors.co.uk

Whitehead Monckton 72 Kings Street, Maidstone Kent ME14 1BH 0800 804 6014 www.whitehead-monckton.co.uk

Nigel Edwards and Co Solicitors White Cottage, 13 Ashford Road, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 5DA 01622 690575

Pengelly & Rylands 39-41 High Street, Tenderden, Kent TN30 6BJ 01580 762248 www.pengelly-rylands.co.uk

Daniel Francis Solicitors 5a Tonbridge Road, Maidstone, Kent, ME16 8RL www.dfsolicitors.co.uk

McLaughlin Hook Ltd The Oast 62 Bell Road, Sittingbourne, Kent ME10 4HE 01795 599010 www.mclaughlinhook.co.uk

A Letter from Santa

hokh.org — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 11:07:38 GMT

A Letter from Santa

In a bid to develop more creative fundraising ideas, the hospice is launching its first ever “Letter to Santa” aimed at delighting young children.

The Santa Letters are only £3.50 each and each child will receive a personalised letter from Santa by post before Christmas day. All proceeds will go to the hospice and help to raise the £2.6million that we need each year to continue our care. Primary Times the What’s on, where to go, things to do magazine for the family are supporting this new initiative and have sponsored the leaflets that will be distributed to all schools and nurseries in the area. You can download a form today by simply clicking on the PDF form or contact Santas’ little helpers on 01622 790195.

Caroline Brinkman Corporate Fundraiser 01622 790195

Refurbishment of the Inpatient Unit

hokh.org — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:31:20 GMT

Refurbishment of the Inpatient Unit from a grant awarded by the Department of Health for the ‘Dignity in Care Programme for Older People’ started in November 2007.

To date the Inpatient Unit has 5 refurbished single rooms, all now with ensuite facilities. All have sealed unit UPVC replacement windows and patio doors, new floor coverings, radiators and overbed lighting.

The award of this grant has also meant that we have been able to refurnish the rooms with new profiling beds, pressure relieving mattresses, combination locker/wardrobe/drug cabinets, co-ordinated soft furnishings and art work. The single rooms all have overhead tracking installed to enable use of a portable patient hoist unit when necessary. This is a more discreet way of providing essential lifting facilities for patients.

The completed rooms have been appreciated by staff and patients alike and as we enter the second phase of the works( to refurbish the remaining rooms, corridors and bathroom) the inpatient unit team is continuing to work round builders, decorators and associated contractors all of whom we thank for their flexibility and consideration.

A separate donation has enabled us to create a much needed room for families to use away from the bedside. This ensuite room has been created from an unused bathroom and will provide overnight facilities for one or two people when necessary.

Moonlit Walk Update

hokh.org — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 09:20:09 GMT

In the early hours of Sunday 6 July, starting at midnight, 365 women walked a half marathon in the Heart of Kent Hospice’s Moonlit Walk to raise more than £75,000 for the charity.

Ann Widdecombe set them off and gave a speech saying that “Twenty years ago, there wasn’t a hospice in Maidstone and through the hard work of a few people who were passionate, we now have a fantastic place for people to come to which is always continuing to add to its services. To see all you women ready to walk and so enthusiastic is amazing and remember that for every step you take, you will be helping someone at a very difficult time in their lives.”

Director of Fundraising – Jennie Hubbard said that “Over 600 women took part in our second Moonlit Walk and have pledged to raise in excess of £75,000 for the Hospice. The whole night was absolutely fantastic – to watch 635 women in pink tee shirts set off into the night in aid of their local hospice was inspirational. I would like to say a huge thank you not only to our walkers, but also to everyone else who helped on the night and contributed to make this such a successful even including Jo Roper, Raynet and the Territorial Army. We are indebted to the Mayor and Mayoress of Tonbridge and Malling who stayed with us all night to welcome back all our walkers to and hand out a medal to each of them on their return to the Kings Hill Community Centre.”

Working to Support Carers

hokh.org — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 09:56:13 GMT

An important part of working with our patients is supporting the people who care for them. For many years the Hospice has run a monthly Carers’ Group. This is open to any carer linked to a patient of the Hospice and is an informal and supportive place to meet others who are caring for someone with a chronic illness.

As a development from this we offer a yearly Pamper Day for Carers where they can come and meet others, enjoy lunch together and, if wish, to, participate in a range of activities and complementary therapies.

Although there are a number of men who are caring for someone we have always found that they rarely access the support services we offer. Therefore at the end of last year, we made a bid to Help the Hospices for some funds to run a group specifically for male carers (who are linked to the Hospice) – and we were delighted to hear that we were successful.

We are hoping to offer three groups over the year, each over a period of eight weeks long. The group will be led by two male counsellors and will be tailored to meet the needs of the men who attend. We are very fortunate in that Crossroads will provide a sitter (at no cost to the client) in order for the men to attend group. The first group is in early June – please contact the Family Services Team for further information. about joining this or future groups.

UPDATE - Grant for the Inpatient Unit

hokh.org — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 13:15:28 GMT

The show room work is now proceeding at a pace, and room 14 now boasts an ensuite shower room. The initial delays were as a result of having had a slow start and needing to install two reinforced steel joists which were an unforeseen addition to the building time and finances.

The amount of noise and dust have now reduced and we are already able to see just what an improvement the new windows and fresh pale green paint will make to the brightness of all our rooms.

Staff and patients will have the benefit of a new fixed hoist tracking system in the room. We will soon have in place a new profiling bed and pressure relieving mattress with colour co-ordinated bed-linen and curtains.

Finally, the lighting for the room has been carefully considered and in place of the single ceiling light and table lamp of the past we shall be installing a wide over bed light with the facility to light the whole room, or to be used as a reading light with the option of reducing and dimming as required.

The ward is very grateful for the patience and understanding of all our patients, visitors and staff while this sometimes noisy work has been going on. We are also grateful to the builders for carrying out their work with sensitivity to our needs.