Centre News

Hello to you all, and I hope you are all staying safe and well

We are now finally able to reopen and resume our much-missed therapies.
The centre is looking reasonably familiar and of course our lovely staff are waiting to welcome you back and help you through the new procedures.

Please remember that we are new to these working practices ourselves and be patient whilst we all get used to them. I have every confidence in our staff and wonderful members. We will soon get the hang of this ‘new normal’.

At the moment, the centre will only open on Tuesdays and Fridays. This will be reviewed regularly and may change, depending on demand.

I would like to take this opportunity to say a massive thank you to everyone who has continued to donate during the lockdown period. This is making a huge difference to our situation going forward, although we are by no means financially ‘out of the woods’ yet.

If anyone has any feedback or suggestions regarding the new look centre or working practices, please don’t hesitate to get in touch and I will take it all on board.

Also, if anyone can help in any way with fundraising or passing on ideas, please continue to do this.

Finally, I hope to see you all back soon, hopefully still functioning reasonably well, despite the gap in our therapies.

Stay safe and take care,

Sharon Eccles
Acting Chairperson

Hello all our lovely people, how are you all keeping? I have everything crossed that the answer to that is ‘OK’. We have really missed you and cannot wait until we can catch up.

However, times are still mighty strange and although we are eager to be up and running, we have to be careful and ensure we move forward with everyone’s safety and peace of mind as a primary factor.

Taking all of that into consideration, staff will be in the Centre from Tuesday 30th June, however this is for pre-operational training and checks only. It is for us to make sure that all of the safety procedures and policies are complete and correct. There will be NO open therapy sessions AT ALL this week.

If everything goes according to plan, we are planning to open the Centre from the week beginning 6th of July. We wish things were immediately going to be back to normal but I think you will understand that that is not possible. There have to be strict rules regarding movement around the Centre, and what can and cannot be allowed at this time. I hope you understand and support us in the precautionary steps we have had to take to ensure safety for all. Any rules and regulations will, of course, be regularly reviewed and relaxed if possible.

For the immediate future the Centre will only be open on Tuesdays and Fridays, this will ensure every morning we are open we are virus free. You will only be allowed into the Centre if you have a pre-booked appointment. Please do not worry if your normal appointment day is neither Tuesday or Friday, for the time being all pre-booked appointments are suspended and all appointments will be opened on a ‘first come first served’ basis. Also, as the number of appointments for all therapies are greatly reduced, if you book an appointment it must be paid for IN FULL whether you turn up for the appointment or not.

Please DO NOT attend the Centre if you think you may have, or are showing any signs of, any infection, even if you are sure it is a cold. If any signs are noticed by staff you may be asked to leave the Centre but you will still have to pay for your therapy.

PPE – all appropriate PPE will be worn by the Staff and Therapists, and there will be gloves, aprons and masks available for members if required.

Oxygen times and pressures will be different to the norm, each session will have a two hour time slot to allow for an hour at pressure and for changing all essential items between sessions. The pressure of each session will be decided when we have a better idea regarding demand. There will only be 3 people taking oxygen inside the chamber at any one time with one, possibly 2, on the outside lines depending on whether things can be adapted to allow for the 2 metres distance between all. Can you please let us know, by email, whether you will want to book an oxygen session and, if so, at which pressure. Once we have an idea of how many people wish to use the oxygen we can then work out a timetable for the oxygen sessions which will commence from Tuesday 7th July.

I am very very pleased to say that our Physiotherapists, Jason (osteopathy), Cath (Alternative Therapies & Massage) are available for providing therapies at the Centre. Please could you let us know, again by email, if you are interested in any of these therapies and if you would like to make an appointment. Or, if you would like to be taken off these therapists’ lists for the time being.

If anyone needs to have a companion with them at the Centre there will be a limited number of chairs available (still keeping the 2 metres safety distance), however these are for necessity only and not for socialising purposes.

If the weather is clement we do not have a problem with people sitting within the grounds and having a chat, but unfortunately we will not be supplying garden chairs, re the above. If you would like to bring your own chairs and drink and chat and chill that would be lovely, but we can do nothing to accommodate these meetings.

I am the first to say this is a rubbish time!!!!!! But, it will get better and although this is unnatural to us, it will soon find its own rhythm and be OK.

Take care everyone

from Julia and the Centre team x

As you would expect from us, we are doing the right thing and following the mandate given by the PM last evening. We are closing our doors to you our members with immediate effect and will open them to you as soon as it is safe to do so.

We are so very sorry to let down the people who desperately wanted to continue their oxygen or physiotherapy. I acknowledge that the lack of these therapies may be detrimental and that is why we were desperate to keep going as long as possible.

I still stand behind the fact that the Centre is safe, but unfortunately, I cannot be that certain about any of us humans who may feel well, have no signs, but may still pass it on. That doubt is the breaking point for us.

Staff will keep you updated weekly regarding your Centre and will gladly pass on any ‘good news’ gardening tip or snippets of fab things you’d like to share.  Just email us and we will forward it on, and please could you help us?  Any information we do put out would you please share it with any friendship groups or Facebook friends you have who are Centre Members just in case they do not have access to e-mails.  That would be great.   Thank you.

I am really, really going to miss seeing and bantering with all you fab ladies and cheeky chaps.  But Hey,  see you all soon when we will be better, stronger and chirpier 💜💚💜💙💜💚

Love, hugs and the best of your best health

Julia, Jo, Lynn and Jess

The Centre Team

Centre Assistant  –  To include  Oxygen Therapy Co-ordinator, General Reception & Administration

Reporting to – The Centre Manager 

Hours –  24hrs a week worked over 3 days

Responsibilities and duties – These will include reception, office and general administration tasks including fundraising. You will help to maintain the high standards of the Centre at every level, adhering to our best practice and protocols.

Aftertraining you will be the authority on Oxygen Therapy; this includes being responsible for all aspects of Health and Safety and the efficient, effective provision of Oxygen Therapy whilst providing a continuance of care for people throughout all stages of this therapy.

Essential experience -Good IT skills; ability to use a range of IT packages including Word, Excel and Publisher and a range of office equipment. You will need to be confident in dealing with telephone enquiries and handling appointment diaries. You will be able to follow instructions, work independently and as part of a team. You will also be committed to completing any relevant learning for the role and be passionate about helping people access the therapies they feel will best help them.

Personal qualities and behavioural traits – We are looking for a professional individual with reception and administrative experience who would like to bring their skills and abilities to our team. You must be honest, empathetic, enthusiastic, patient, have respect for others and have a good sense of humour. You need to be adaptable to changing situations while ensuring members feel welcome and are safe at all times You will be a support for all areas of our Centre and its therapies, especially Oxygen Therapy.  As an enthusiastic and flexible team member you will help with enabling us to deliver the best services we can to our members and the best experience to our visitors. Confidentiality is an essential aspect of this role.

We are looking to fill this post as soon as possible, so if you are interested please get in touch on 01709-367784, and ask for Julia or Jo, for more details.