Day Services at John Eastwood Hospice have reopened to patients after being closed for more than six months because of coronavirus restrictions with a new name and a new look.

The service closed for patient safety just ahead of the national lockdown in March, but the team was determined that wouldn’t mean an end to the support they offer.

Day Services supports a wide range of people, from those first receiving a diagnosis of long-term ill health to those nearing the end of their life.

During the pandemic the team supported patients remotely, whilst also working hard to redesign services ahead of their eventual reopening at the Sutton hospice.

The redesigned service is being accompanied by a new name, chosen by the patients themselves — The John Eastwood Living Well Centre.

The team will be supporting patients using a traffic light system.

Green sessions are for patients newly-diagnosed with cancer or a long-term condition.The activities are wellbeing focused, including arts, crafts, yoga, and horticulture.

Amber sessions are for patients who are less well, but still relatively independent. Amber activities will focus on symptom management and helping patients live independently for as long as they are able.

Red sessions will be for patients who require more involvement from the Specialist Palliative Care team, which includes consultants, clinical psychologists and chaplaincy services. Activities will focus on quality of life with loved ones and helping to create lasting memories with relatives, including afternoon teas and movie days. Patients will also have the opportunity to create memory boxes for their loved ones.

Michelle Stendall, lead therapist at the Living Well Centre, said: “We put ourselves in our patients’ shoes to see what we would want from the centre, and we hope the new services will meet all their needs.

“Under the traffic light system, people will be able to move between the green, amber and red sessions as appropriate for their needs without having to be discharged and re-referred.”

The Day Services team includes a therapy assistant practitioner, a complementary therapist, an activity coordinator, an occupational therapist and a physiotherapist.

Michelle added: “During lockdown, we put together support packs designed to appeal to each patient’s individual interests where possible.

“For example, we sent some supplies to a lady who we knew was keen on making cards, and others received quizzes, arts and crafts materials, and seeds to be planted at home, as well as information on managing their symptoms.

“A lot of our patients have a life-limiting condition, so the psychological and symptom control support we offer has been vital.”

Since March, the Day Services team has also supported the wider hospice with swabbing, providing Covid-19 tests for inpatients at the hospice.

Michelle said: “The team has really risen to the challenge, worked hard and taken ownership.

“Whilst we’re really pleased to be welcoming clients back, we’re also excited that by using new technologies, such as virtual face-to-face conversations on video calls, we can further develop our services moving forwards for people who, because of their condition, aren’t able to travel to the centre.”