Paul Sartori Foundation, Pembrokeshire’s hospice at home charity were recently awarded local grants from two funders, the South Hook LNG Community Fund (administered by PAVS (Pembrokeshire Association of Voluntary Services)) and the Yorkshire Building Society Charitable Foundation.

A grant of £2,012 was awarded by the South Hook LNG Community Fund and £588 by the Yorkshire Building Society Charitable Foundation.

The total amount of £2600 enabled the local charity to purchase a new specialised steam cleaner for its Equipment Loan Service.

The funders were invited to Paul Sartori House recently to meet the team and the impact of the funding. The team explained the replacement was urgently needed as the previous steam cleaner had broken but was repaired.

This replacement now enables them to clean all items of equipment, to the same high standard, efficiently and effectively.

Ensuring that they eliminate viruses, bacteria and other potentially harmful organisms which could have a damaging effect on patients in the community.

The Paul Sartori Hospice at Home Equipment Service loan a range of essential items of equipment to end-of-life patients in Pembrokeshire. During 2022/2023, they delivered 1,771 items (this equates to over 34 per week).

All items that are new, are delivered, collected, or returned from patients are cleaned and placed in the store ready for re-issue. Cleaning these items also ensures that items have an extended shelf life and reduces the period for when they must be replaced.

Examples of essential items include wheelchairs, beds, commodes, chairs, and mattresses. Every year, more items of equipment are delivered to support families.

Amanda Elmes, Equipment Assistant at Paul Sartori, offered a demonstration on the new steam cleaner to Adrian, Mariam, and Chris from South Hook LNG Terminal; to Rachel from PAVS and Roz and Sian from the Yorkshire Building Society Community Fund (Tenby branch).

Pat Coombs, the Clinical Coordinator highlighted the efficiency of the team which provides such a vital service in the community, complimenting the statutory service provided by the Community Equipment Service funded by Pembrokeshire County Council and the Hywel Dda University Health Board.

“We are very grateful to both funders for enabling our charity to purchase this upgraded and more efficient steam cleaner,” said Judith Williams, Grant Development Officer from Paul Sartori Hospice at Home.

“We are very pleased to have been able to support the tremendous work of the dedicated team at Paul Sartori – an organisation that continues to have a hugely positive impact across our County,” commented Mariam Dalziel of South Hook LNG.

“It is very gratifying and humbling to think of the work that Paul Sartori Hospice at Home does, and we are so delighted that our customer’s pennies are going to such a good cause,” commented Sian Rees, Tenby Branch Manager for Yorkshire Building Society.

Paul Sartori Hospice at Home provide a variety of services to not only support patients with dementia, but a range of other life limiting illnesses by providing home nursing care, complementary therapy, bereavement, and counselling support, under 18s anticipatory and bereavement support, physiotherapy, advance care planning and training.

These services are complemented by support being available 24-hours a day, 7-days a week with a standby service also available for people who do not yet need hands on care, which can include patients with dementia.