COVID-19 PAMIS Statement to Families

By Lesley Gray March 18, 2020

PAMIS are taking daily advice from the NHS Scotland web sites in order to ensure we are meeting essential and best practice recommendations.

We have alerted departments within Scottish Government regarding the concerns from family carers about the advice required for children, young people and adults with profound learning and multiple complex disabilities. I realise that some advice has been raising concerns especially in relation to asking family and friends to take on roles when we know that without intensive training this will be impossible.

We recognise that family carers are well aware of high quality in infection control but there are some useful links below which are regularly updated as new information arrives

https://www.gov.scot/coronavirus-covid-19/

https://www.rcpch.ac.uk/resources/covid-19-guidance-paediatric-services#preparing-for-covid-19

http://www.nipcm.hps.scot.nhs.uk/chapter-1-standard-infection-control-precautions-sicps/

https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/coronavirus-covid-19

Although PAMIS offices are in the main closed staff continue to work remotely providing support and essential services. All planned activities through PAMIS have been postponed until further notice as we recognise the risks associated with bringing us all together especially with the children, young people and adults with PMLD many of whom have significant health issues. However we don’t want to lose touch and are moving to some virtual online groups to support families isolated within their own homes. These sessions will provide for example adapted activities including sport to do while stuck at home; family carer wellbeing sessions including art and poetry and hopefully yoga and an opportunity to chat and support each other. We are also exploring with key healthcare personnel ‘an audience with’ opportunity so key concerns and questions can be posed – exploratory at the moment but more to follow.

In addition the family Support Directors will be working providing virtual support, practical assistance when required and if appropriate still meeting with families to support essential appointments. They will be available via email or on phone support.

PAMIS staff are also available to support the use of a PAMIS digital passport which will enable any new carers that may be required at this difficult time to engage and understand the specific needs of the person that is being cared for. More information about the PAMIS digital passports can be found here https://pamis.org.uk/services/digital-passports/.

We want all of the families we work with, and others that might need our support, to know we are still here and please do get in touch if you need any support or even just a chat! We will update you regularly and let you know when and where our online sessions are available.

Keep safe and stay in touch. Jenny Miller, CEO, PAMIS

PAMIS Contacts:

Fife

Maureen McClelland: [email protected]

Andrew Smart: Mob: [email protected]

Dundee

Alex Hoskins: [email protected]

Maureen Phillip: [email protected]

South Lanarkshire

Michelle Morrison: [email protected]

Lesley McLaren: [email protected]

Grampian