Covid-19 forces closure of hospice day service

The Hindley-based charity has put the future of the service at its Kildare Street headquarters under review.

The Oak Centre provided a range of activities that people with life-limiting illnesses in the borough could go into the hospice to enjoy.

With Covid-19 forcing people to stay at home and public venues being shut, the hospice tried to offer a virtual day service. But it did not appeal to sufficient numbers of patients to make it viable.

The pandemic has left charities with huge financial holes, with the hospice unable to run many of its most popular fund-raising events and activities this year and its charity shops having been shut for months.

However, bosses have not ruled out bringing back a day service at some point when the outlook improves and says it is working with clients and staff to ensure they are still supported.

Chief executive Dr Alan Baron said: “We are sad to announce that the future of our Oak Centre is under review and, as such, it will close at the end of December.

“Over almost three years it has made a real difference to the wellbeing of many local people living with life-limiting illnesses.

“The closure has been prompted by the virtual service not attracting enough patients to remain viable and because of the significant financial impact of Covid-19 on the hospice.

“The hospice has not closed the door entirely on providing a day service some time in the future. We will be working closely with the council and NHS to understand the needs of our local population in a post-Covid world and to source potential funding opportunities.”

The Oak Centre’s service users will be helped to find alternative community services in the borough and are also able to continue accessing any of WLH’s other services.

Prior to Covid-19 the centre ran for three days a week and after the pandemic hit the virtual version offered activities including exercise classes, a reading group, sessions advising on symptom management and a social group called Brew and Zoom.

The centre’s three members of staff have been offered secondments with Wigan Council’s reablement team and two have accepted positions.

The hospice says transferring expert palliative and end-of-life skills to the reablement service in the town hall will have a considerable effect.

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