Supporting families locally who end up in hospital with their child
Sophies Legacy is a local charity that provide our hospital wards with the following:
- Snack and toiletry box in every parent room / kitchen in 12 hospitals covering over 36 wards
- Frozen meals from Cook in Southampton, Portsmouth, Dorchester, Salisbury
- Pizza every Saturday at Portsmouth, Chichester, Isle of Wight, Poole children's ward and NICU and Royal Marsden Hospitals and Sunday at Guildford.
- Art practitioner at Portsmouth Hospital and in the community for children who spend long periods of time in hospital
- Parent packs which contain essential toiletry items, phone chargers, note pad and pen, snack etc.
- A trolley of food, drink and toiletries 7 days a week at QA Hospital for parents on CAU and children's wards
- Family support workers at Portsmouth hospital six days a week
The support varies depending on each situation. They tend to offer the following on a referral basis:
- Help with transport costs (fuel vouchers, bus or train passes or taxis)
- Clothes when admitted in an emergency with their child
- Birthday parties in hospital for children and parents
- Emotional support
- End of life wishes for children and their families
- Vouchers for meals at the hospital restaurant or shops such as M&S
- Costa vouchers
- Beauty treatments such as nails, haircut or back massage when a parent needs it – this tends to be for the parents in for long stays.
Visit https://www.sophieslegacy.org.uk/ to find out more.