Coronavirus Response
Children and families are at the absolute heart of CHAS. So it's important to highlight, we remain determined to be there for everyone in our care throughout the Coronavirus crisis, and beyond.
Delivering care in the safest possible way is our number one priority and we continued to reach children and families all across Scotland in 2020 by remaining vigilant and agile throughout, and adhering to government guidelines.
Since January 2021, we are continuing to provide support through our hospices, our home service, in hospitals across the country and of course, virtually.
How our services look now
Three beds and a Rainbow Room in each hospice
- Our hospices remain open and offer care, although we are not offering planned respite in the way we used to.
- We provide hospice care for symptom management; deterioration in clinical condition; care package breakdown; housing crisis or whenever a family's resilience is challenged by these unprecedented circumstances.
Increased care at home
- CHAS at Home, Family Support Team and hospice staff., are working closer together to support the families in their homes
- With the increased virulence of the virus, we are now focusing on essential care needs and avoiding increasing risk of exposure to families through unnecessary visits.
- We are involving Home Support Volunteers virtually and will move them into the home when possible.
Our work in hospitals
Our funding of a new paediatric palliative care consultant in NHS Lothian begins in February. This builds on our existing funding and support in children's hospitals.
Virtual delivery
Our virtual services are continuing to increase following our record breaking virtual delivery in December; our busiest month since the beginning of the pandemic.
We are being very vigilant for the signs that indicate a need for visits at home or hospice.
Developments continue to be fast-paced but we remain committed to five priorities all over Scotland:
- Delivering as much care as we can, safely, in the ways that support families the most.
- Ensuring our services adapt in ways that are right for the children and families we support.
- Using technology to deliver care through our virtual children's hospice in a way that will see it become integrated into future service offering.
- Working closely with the NHS and Local Authorities to ensure joined up efforts.
- Maintaining fundraising and funding to ensure care continues in this continuously challenging time.
Our ongoing commitments to children and families
- Support the best possible quality of life and care for every child.
- Provide a service which is active and dynamic to meet children's and families' fluctuating, unpredictable and urgent needs as they emerge.
- Provide essential care including pain and symptom management; end of life care; emotional, psychological and spiritual support; practical and social support; play; and transition.
Government and NHS Advice
COVID-19 vaccine information
If you are an unpaid/ family carer, and you have not already received your first COVID-19 vaccination or vaccination appointment letter, you can self-register by visiting: nhsinform.scot/carersregister. If you can't do this online, please call the Covid Vaccination Helpline on 0800 030 8013.
The NHS Inform COVID-19 vaccine website has a wide range of the most up-to-date information about the vaccine, including information about appointments for those due to receive a vaccine. This is also the place to go if individuals wish to rearrange an appointment or have lost their letter.
https://www.nhsinform.scot/covid19vaccine
Scottish Government Strategic Framework
The Scottish Government's Strategic Framework, sets out the five-tier system of coronavirus alert levels in Scotland.
The Scottish Government Website has the latest indicative timetable for the easing of restrictions.
The Scottish Government have also published extra advice on for people at highest risk from COVID / on the shielding list.
You can find out what tier your local area is in (and what you can/ can't do at each level).
Schools guidance has been updated in light of the new framework.
Scottish Government Coronavirus (COVID-19): shielding support and contacts
This Scottish Government shielding support and contacts page is kept up-to-date with a summary of the latest information and advice for those who have been shielding. These pages also contain information about how to sign up to the text messaging service for those on the shielding list.
NHS Inform
Latest coronavirus (COVID-19)guidance from NHS Scotland and the Scottish Government, including physical distancing measures and advice for infected households.
www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/coronavirus-covid-19
Booking a Test
For more information on who can get a coronavirus test, when to get a test, and to book a test:
Useful Resources
Parent Club
Parent Club offers up-to-date guidance from the Scottish Government on your child’s health and education. It’s full of hints and tips from other parents and carers who’ve been there before. It also has advice to help you look after your own wellbeing and to point you in the direction of the support available.
They have a dedicated Coronavirus page with advice and resources for parents of children of all ages.
www.parentclub.scot/topics/coronavirus
Young Scot - Coronovirus resources
Young Scot, the national youth information and citizenship charity for 11-26 year olds in Scotland, provides information, ideas and opportunities for young people, helping them to make informed decisions and choices. The charity also aims to connect young people to opportunities locally, nationally and globally; empowering them to create and drive positive change.
The Young Scot Coronovirus page has a range of resources and links for young people.
young.scot/campaigns/national/coronavirus
Other Partnerships
Hearts & Minds
Home of the Clowndoctors
Nordoff Robbins in Scotland
We partner with Nordoff Robbins to provide music therapy to our children and families.
www.nordoff-robbins.org.uk/locations/scotland
Rachel Drury
Rachel Drury is the creator and composer of BabyO and SensoryO, two groundbreaking operas for infants aged between 6 and 36 months, for which she has received international acclaim. Both operas have toured internationally, and more recently to Royal Opera House, London in March 2014. Rachel is also a lecturer on the undergraduate and postgraduate programmes at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, and has given a variety of research lectures across the UK.
www.rcs.ac.uk/staff/drury_rachel
Any questions?
If you have any questions about your support from CHAS, please contact Rachel House on 01577 865777 or Robin House on 01389 722055 and ask to speak to a Charge Nurse or Nurse Manager.
For any questions about symptoms, please contact NHS24 on 111.
If you want to talk to someone about your own situation or find out more about our services, please get in touch: