Kirkwood Hospice staff praised for ‘brilliant’ patient care during snow chaos

Feb 9 2009 by Barry Gibson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Kirkwood Hospice staff praised for ‘brilliant’ patient care during snow chaos

HOSPICE staff have been praised for their dedication to patients during the winter weather difficulties.

Patients and their families told the Examiner they were impressed with the ‘brilliant’ care staff gave, despite problems caused by last week’s snow.

During the worst of the weather on Monday and Tuesday , some nursing staff did not go home after their shift.

Instead they stayed overnight to ensure they would be on site to work their hours the next day.

Some worked extra hours to cover for colleagues unable to reach the hospice at Albany Road in Dalton.

Other nurses, office and catering staff braved difficult journeys to get to work.

Jill Bell, whose husband is a patient, said: “All the staff here are so committed. They are brilliant.

“The whole place has kept on going in spite of the difficulties.”

Even volunteers managed to get the hospice’s 13 charity shops open for business in the town centre, Slaithwaite, Almondbury, Batley, Cleckheaton, Dalton, Dewsbury, Heckmondwike, Holmfirth, Honley, Lindley, Milnsbridge and Mirfield.