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.
Our ongoing organisational commitments
In this time of unprecedented uncertainty, we’re continuing to do everything we can to be there for every child in Scotland with a life-shortening condition, their carers’ and their families’. Developments continue to be fast-paced but we remain committed to five things all over Scotland each day:
- 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.
Our service deliverables
- Our priorities for the coming months distilled:
- Continue a smaller hospice service with three beds and Rainbow Room open in each hospice;
- Increase support at home through CHAS at Home and Family Support Outreach;
- Increase work in hospitals across the country;
- Deliver care virtually wherever possible.
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 prioritise end of life, crisis and unplanned care.
- 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 support at home
- We have expanded our outreach work involving CHAS at Home, Family Support Team and hospice staff.
- We support families in home schooling.
- We involve Home Support Volunteers.
Our work in hospitals
- Funding a new specialist CHAS consultant in NHS Lothian.
Virtual delivery
- Everyone will use technology to deliver care virtually as part of their role.
Government and NHS Advice
Scottish Government Coronavirus (COVID-19): shielding support and contacts
The most up-to-date information and advice for those who have been shielding can be found at the Scottish Government links below. These pages also contain information about how to sign up to the text messaging service for those on the shielding list.
www.mygov.scot/support-shielding/
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: