Peace Hospice Care is closing its doors from the public to protect high-risk patients and its staff from Covid-19, says CEO Declan Carroll.

The charity hospice that provides end-of-life care to patients around Hertfordshire will be following Government advice and restrict access to the site.

All eleven of the charity shops will also be shut until further notice, alongside postponing all outpatient groups, events and activities.

For patients, some hospice beds have been reduced, to ensure enough social-distancing and prevent the spread of Covid-19.

For the latest coronavirus updates for Hertfordshire, visit our live blog here

While beds have been left with a limited supply, Mr Declan says further changes could be implemented if the demand for more care and support increases to a “breaking point” during the pandemic.

The CEO said: “Our number one priority is always the health, safety and wellbeing of patients, families, carers, supporters, staff, volunteers and the wider community.”

“We have been meeting daily for several weeks as we monitored the outbreak.

“Our feeling was that now, the time was right.”

Despite the enforced restrictions, Mr Carroll is hoping to still continue a supportive network with a central patient communication hotline run by volunteers to help with counselling and loneliness during the self-isolation period.

The inpatient unit will continue running during the outbreak and the community visiting process to homes will also continue, but there will be increased screening measures to ensure safety for both patients and staff.

Patients will be accepted if there is an availability of its limited beds.

He said: “A lot of that screening relies on trust and honesty.

“But as the pandemic heightens, people will get lonelier, and it’s important we find a way to increase communication – this can only be a good thing going forward.

“We’re trying to be on top of the process to protect everyone, we have been for a few weeks, with increased cleaning and hand hygiene, and other things you traditionally expect – but more alert.”

The CEO says that following the decisions to close shops, the hospice will have to study their “financial footprint” during the pandemic.

He adds: “But we are fortunate we have a strong financial reserve for catastrophic incidents like this.

“I expect that the Government will have to provide financial support for charities moving forward during this time.

“For now though, we are not at financial risk.”

Hospice staff that can continue working at home are encouraged to do so, but frontline carers of course are still helping out with patients needs.

But Mr Declan says this is a time to be “more creative” with using technology and finding a way to both support staff at home and patient needs.

He said: “The response we have seen to the decision has been immensely supportive.”

Fortunately for the hospice, panic buyers leaving supermarket shelves empty across Hertfordshire and the UK have not yet affected supplies for its end-of-life care.

A good amount of clinicals supplies are still coming through from the NHS, and the CEO says he is grateful that non-clinical items are still being donated by the community.

Mr Declan admits that the situation could change in the future and they will have to monitor the situation on a “day-to-day basis”.

He concluded: “As things go on, we don’t want to stockpile and cause issues for others.

“But I think it’s incredible, the community has become resilient and are working together.

“We will get through this, and once this is over it is likely we will have to reshape the service model.

“I urge everyone to keep themselves safe, to look after each other and to stay informed about the latest Government advice.”

West Hertfordshire Hospitals Trust is also going through a series of changes during the pandemic.

Follow our live-blog for more updates of coronavirus in Hertfordshire and the UK.