Acorns steps up to assist in the Coronavirus crisis - The Worcester Observer

Acorns steps up to assist in the Coronavirus crisis

Worcester Editorial 3rd Apr, 2020   0

A LEADING city charity has been boosted with staff from its Birmingham hospice to ensure it can continue provide support during the Coronavirus crisis.

Acorns Children’s Hospice Birmingham is to temporarily close and its staff redeployed to its other Acorns hospices in Worcester and Walsall.

The charity has moved quickly in support of the emergency effort and with its Birmingham hospice close to large acute trusts in the city, will be offered as a Covid-19 facility for patients of any age.

Acorns in the Black Country, the charity’s hospice based in Walsall, will be available for children with complex medical needs currently being looked after in local hospitals, providing a safe environment whilst helping the NHS maximise their own intensive care capability.




Acorns Chief Executive, Toby Porter, said: “In these unprecedented times, Acorns is stepping-up.

“These plans will allow us to continue to prioritise children’s hospice care for the most vulnerable children and families, whilst directly or indirectly supporting the wider emergency response of our NHS and social care system, by increasing intensive care bed capacity in our hospitals.”


As part of the emergency measures, Acorns will provide:

End of life care for any child or young person that needs it

A safe and secure environment for any child with life limiting or life threatening illness or condition, who cannot be looked after at home

A safe and secure environment at Acorns in the Black Country, Walsall, for children with complex conditions currently being cared for in local hospitals, helping NHS hospitals maximise their own intensive care capability to respond to new Covid-19 patients.

Emotional and practical help to the 600 or so families of children normally cared for at Acorns, and who are almost all now self-isolating at home in very difficult conditions.

Toby Porter added: “Acorns is proud to have the opportunity at this time of national emergency to continue to provide our highly specialised children’s hospice care and to support our NHS partners.

“We’re all in this together, and our communities must continue to work together to fight this infection and be there for the most vulnerable.”

In the past year Acorns has cared for over 780 children and more than 1,000 families, including those who are bereaved. The charity relies on donations and fundraising to continue providing its services.

Visit www.acorns.org.uk/covid-response for more

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