New end of life support model of care launched at Rotherham Hospital

The purple butterfly in memory giving model of care focuses on the needs of our patients and their loved ones. The purple butterfly symbol indicates that a patient and their loved ones are facing uncertainty, deterioration, or the end of life.

To support the model, Registered Nursing Associate Rebekah Naylor developed personalised memory boxes which can be filled with special items belonging to the patient to help families cherish their memories of their loved one. 

Rebekah’s thoughtful idea has been partly funded by Rotherham Hospital and Community Charity’s Purple Butterfly In Memory Giving Fund. 

The boxes include, compiled by members of the Chief Nurse and Supportive Care teams:

• Inkless fingerprints to capture a unique imprint
• A storage container for a lock of hair
• An angel keyring symbolising protection and guidance
• Forget-me-not seeds to nurture a person's memory in a living plant
• A bereavement book to help support families through what to do after a loved one dies

Also included are a pair of crocheted hearts. One is kept by the patient while the other is for the family. 100 hearts have been kindly provided by keen crafters so far after a call to action through the Trust’s social media accounts. 

Anyone who enjoys crochet is welcome to provide some hearts that will be used in the purple butterfly boxes for patients receiving end of life care or those who are separated from loved ones during difficult times. 

Information about how to create the comfort hearts is available on the Trust’s website.

Helen Dobson, Chief Nurse, said: “Learning that one of your loved ones is coming to the end of their life can be really hard to come to terms with. We have listened to feedback we have received and developed this new model of care to provide a person-centred approach. This enables families to build memories and be supported through the loss of a loved one, while our staff are able to focus on what is important to the patient as they come to the end of their life.” 

Working with Karen Shay-Nutt, Lead Nurse for Palliative care, Acute Oncology, Cancer of Unknown Primary and Chaplaincy, these memory boxes have been rolled out across the Trust this week. The boxes have been rolled out to all adult inpatient wards at Rotherham Hospital, as well as the Intensive Care Unit and the Urgent and Emergency Care Centre.

Help and support with bereavement: 

Hospice UK

Access to a free national confidential bereavement support line, operated by Hospice UK, available 8am to 8pm, seven days a week. Telephone: 0300 303 4434

Anne Robson Trust

A helpline providing support to people who are dying, and their families and friends. It is also available to anyone working with people who are dying (e.g. NHS staff, care home staff, or carers). Trained helpline volunteers are there to listen, Monday to Friday, 12pm to 6pm, 0808 801 0688. Calls are completely free from all UK landlines and mobiles.

Mind

Bereavement support - Understanding grief and bereavement (including from suicide), how to manage and where to get help.

Cruse Bereavement

Resources and helpline, Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 3pm, Telephone: 0808 808 1677

The Good Grief Trust

Advice and support for recently bereaved