Important information
The health and wellbeing of our patients, families, workforce and hospice community is always our number one priority.
If you are displaying any symptoms of COVID-19 or if you are required to be isolating or under quarantine you will not be permitted to visit the Hospice. This applies to all visitors, staff, suppliers and volunteers.
Face coverings - From Monday 14th September face coverings must be worn by all staff, volunteers and visitors on entering the main Hospice building.
This is an incredibly difficult time for everyone but we also must ensure everyones ongoing safety. We have been working hard to develop our services with the compassion and quality you know, whilst adapting to provide care in new and inclusive ways to reach those who need it most, wherever they are in our community. Please find details about our current visiting policy, new services and more about what we do below.
Visiting
We want to support you to keep in touch with your loved one the best we can, so by following Health Protection Scotland guidelines and taking the appropriate precautions we have developed the following guidelines to offer “Indoor Visiting” and “Outdoor Visiting” for limited numbers. Please remember that you can also keep in contact regularly via Facetime or similar – we have dedicated iPads to support this.
In order to comply with Scottish Government Track and Trace policy, all visitors (indoor and outdoor) will require to leave their name and contact number at reception. We will keep this information for 21 days and then safely remove it from our records.
Indoor Visiting - We are delighted to be able to support visiting in our inpatient unit, however, from Monday 14th September, patient visiting is restricted to 2 named visitors per day from one household. When you visit, please consider shorter visits and travel directly to & from the Hospice. Bring essential items only. If possible, leave personal belongings in your car.
On arrival, you must wait to see a member of staff. You will be asked COVID-19 related questions each time you visit and you will be asked to wear a face covering at all times during your visit. Physical distancing of 2 metres must be observed and hand washing instructions followed. Children under 12 years who have a parent or guardian admitted to IPU can visit indoors but form part of the 2 named visitors per day.
Outdoor Visiting - Each patient can have up to four visitors each day outside, instead of indoor visitors, either in the Hospice courtyard or designated seating by the Cedar tree at the front of the Hospice building. All the visitors must be from one household. Children under 12 years can visit outdoors but form part of the overall number of visitors. Children over 5 years must wear a face covering.
Every time you visit you must wear a face covering and use hand sanitiser provided at the Hospice door. There will be no access to any part of the Hospice building, including reception, toilets or Cafe for outdoor visitors.
For more information please read our current COVID-19 visiting policy here.
Our new services
Access Our new Access Team have been specially selected to offer expert advice to patients, families and health professionals at first point of contact. The service operates from 0900 to 1600, Monday to Friday, and helps people access the right service at the right time: patient referrals; bereavement, grief and family counselling; family support; professional advice for care organisations and all other clinical enquiries. Telephone the Access Team on 0131 551 7751.
Community Hospice We are supporting patients and families over the phone and with Virtual Consultations via a secure video call as well as in person as an outpatient or in your own home where essential. We use a NHS system called Attend Anywhere/ Near Me. Information about the system and compatible devices can be found here. The date and time of consultations will be pre-arranged by phone with one of our team. Full instructions on how to use the system will be provided.
We have also developed a Hospice at Home team to ensure we can support people to be well cared for at home throughout their illness.
Families We have launched a Family Support page with resources to help you cope through difficult times. You will find information here for family members, friends and carers, including advice on how to explain incurable illness to children, managing with restrictions on visiting loved ones, how to access support and counselling, and resources on coping with bereavement
Social media Join our community online and follow our news. Please visit our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter to find regular updates on events, new services, community news and fundraising initiatives.
Volunteering We are working with our current volunteer teams to redesign roles where possible. Find information about current volunteering close to home at Volunteer Edinburgh
It is heart-warming to see everyone pulling together for their local hospice despite such difficult circumstances. Thank you and stay safe.
What we do
St Columba’s Hospice Care provides hospice and end-of-life care for people with incurable illnesses and their families. COVID-19 has changed they way that we all live and work, but the Hospice Team continues to offer our services to those who need it most, no matter where they are across Edinburgh and the Lothians – be that at home, in care settings or at the Hospice.
Our services
We are an independent charity at the heart of our local community, offering new, flexible and person-centred services to our patients and families despite COVID-19. Following an 18-month strategic review, we had already begun to adapt our ways of working to ensure we provide care to those who need it the most, where they need it most.
Having already set out our goals, we have taken action to put in place the services that are most vital to our families at this time. Our dedicated staff continue to provide care to patients in our wards and in our community, whilst following the latest Scottish Government and Health Protection Scotland guidelines. We also have a new team, making it possible to access our services by phone and online. From making referrals to getting the support that you and your family need, we are there for you.
Our services
We are an independent charity at the heart of our local community, offering new, flexible and person-centred services to our patients and families despite COVID-19. Following an 18-month strategic review, we had already begun to adapt our ways of working to ensure we provide care to those who need it the most, where they need it most.
Having already set out our goals, we have taken action to put in place the services that are most vital to our families at this time. Our dedicated staff continue to provide care to patients in our wards and in our community, whilst following the latest Scottish Government and Health Protection Scotland guidelines. We also have a new team, making it possible to access our services by phone and online. From making referrals to getting the support that you and your family need, we are there for you.
COVID-19 has changed the way that we live, work and fundraise! Many of our events this Summer have been postponed so your support of our new initiatives, through your donations and by taking part in fundraising from home, is hugely appreciated.
82p of every £1 is spent directly on patient care with the other 18p going towards raising the next £1. So, the generosity of our community of supporters directly helps us to maintain our invaluable services for the people of Edinburgh and the Lothians. Thank you very much for your support.
You can donate right now£10 could provide a little box of thoughts to help a child through bereavement.
Donate now£20 could provide one hour of specialist Hospice at Home training for a family carer.
Donate now£35 could pay for one hour of specialist nurse-led pain & symptom control for an outpatient.
Donate now£150 could pay for a day of palliative care education for care home and homeless shelter staff.
Donate nowGift Aid it! If you are a UK taxpayer, your donation could qualify for gift aid and increase its value by 25%.
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I think the word I’d use for the support I’ve received is grateful. This place is brilliant.
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If anyone was in any way unsure about staying at the Hospice, I would say there’s nothing to worry about. Everybody is so friendly and happy: you’re treated like royalty.
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I think back to my first thoughts and how wrong they were and if anyone else was feeling that way or scared about what to expect I’d tell them don’t be daft, get in there!
Help raise much-needed financial support so we can provide more people with the best hospice care. We have lots of ideas and fun new virtual fundraising events to take part in. Whether you enjoy taking exercise, baking, crafts or quizzes we have something for you!
Find out moreLegacy giving
Leaving a legacy gift to St Columba’s in your Will helps ensure more people receive the very best hospice care available.
Find out more
