White Christmas Dip cancelled

Christmas Dip supporters urged to “Donate don’t Dip”

The two Bournemouth cousins who organise the popular Macmillan White Christmas Dip, say they have no choice but to cancel the event – for the first time in 13 years. Tom Baker and John White said they are “deeply upset”, but that the current COVID-19 restrictions make organising the charity sea plunge “impossible”.

The annual Dip routinely attracts around 1200 participants of all ages, many in fancy dress, who brave the icy sea close to Boscombe Pier to remember loved ones they have lost and to raise money for Macmillan Caring Locally which supports the Macmillan Unit in Christchurch.

The event has raised £250k to date for the hospice and was set to make £50k this year for Brick by Brick, its new building appeal.

Tom and John are now urging ‘dippers’ to do the next best thing and donate their Dip entrance fee direct to the Unit. The cousins held the first Macmillan White Christmas Dip in 2008, after John’s dad (also called John) was supported by the Unit following a cancer diagnosis.

Tom said: “We are both deeply upset to have to cancel this year’s event. As well as being a huge fundraiser for the hospice it has become such a well-loved event which really brings the community together. Unfortunately, as with many fundraising events, the guidelines around the Covid epidemic mean it’s simply impossible to hold it”.

“We only hope that the huge number of loyal supporters of the Dip will continue to show their solidarity by donating what they would have spent on entering, to the Unit. We may not be able to actually get together in the water this year, but we can contribute to its work in supporting so many families.”

Neal Williams, Trust Secretary of Macmillan Caring Locally, said: “The cancellation of the Christmas Dip is a huge blow, both to John and Tom and also to the charity. They are our single, biggest donors and the incredible amount of money they have raised for us over the years has enabled us to make many improvements to patient facilities at the Macmillan Unit, as well as supporting our Brick by Brick appeal last year”.

“I, like so many of my colleagues, family and friends, will be hugely disappointed not to be in fancy dress at the beach this Christmas Day, running into the icy sea for a dip in memory of our loved ones. But I will be looking forward to when it can be held again safely and hoping that people will still do what they can to support the Macmillan Unit in the meantime, by making a donation.”

To donate to Macmillan Caring Locally go here

List of pharmacies 

 Pharmacy name and address

Phone Number

100 hour pharmacy

 Locality

Asda Pharmacy

St Pauls Road, Bournemouth,BH8 8DL

01202 298900

Yes

Bournemouth East

Castle Lane Pharmacy
482 Castle Lane West Bournemouth, BH8 9UD

01202 772110

Yes

Bournemouth West

Ferndown Pharmacy
487 Ringwood Road, Ferndown, BH22 9AG

01202 892666

Yes

East Dorset

Tesco Extra Pharmacy
Yarrow Road, Mannings Heath Poole, BH12 4NX

01202 457447 or 01202 367447

Yes

Parkstone

Asda Pharmacy
West Quay Road, Poole, BH15 1JQ

01202 207000

Yes

Poole Central

Equipment – www.redcross.org.uk Is useful for wheelchairs and other equipment

Guide for people nearing end stage of life : https://intranet.rbch.nhs.uk/uploads/palliative/documents/What-to-Expect.pdf

Brief Drugs List for GPs

 

Pain/breathlessness:

Morphine sulphate 2.5-5mg SC PRN (10mg in 1ml injection)

(alternative if taking PO or eGFR<30 – Oxycodone 1 – 2.5mg SC PRN (10mg in 1ml injection))

[Please take background opioid into account when prescribing doses for anticipatories]

Anxiety/distress:

Midazolam 2.5-5mg SC PRN (10mg in 2ml injection)

Secretions:

Glycopyrronium 200mcg SC PRN (600mcg in 3ml injection)

(alternative for secretions: Hyoscine Butylbromide 20mg/ml injection)

Nausea :

Levomepromazine 6.25mg SC PRN (25mg in 1ml injection)

(alternative for nausea: Haloperidol 1.5mg SC PRN (5mg in 1ml injection)

Water for injection

Dexamethasone 3.3mg SC OD-BD (equivalent to 4mg PO) if risk of steroid withdrawal/Addisons during terminal phase.

Day/Time Example Timetable
Monday - AM

9am MMU Ward Hand over; 9:30am Tour of MMU

10m Consultant Ward Round, MMU

Monday - PM

12pm Ward Nurses - syringe driver administration (treatment room)

1:30 Nursing Handover – MMU (ward office)

MMU – Admission Assessment(s) with ward doctor

Tuesday - AM

9am Ward Hand over

9:20am Referrals Meeting on MMU

10am Community visiting with Specialist Nurse

Tuesday - PM

12:30 Journal Club – MMU (doctors office)

2pm Introduction to Patient and Family Support Team

3pm Introduction to Welfare and benefits Advisor

Wednesday - AM

9am Ward Hand over

9:20am Referrals Meeting on MMU

10am Consultant ward round - MMU

Wednesday - PM

2pm Doctor/Nurse Home Visit with Specialty Doctor

Thursday - AM

9:15am Multi-Disciplinary Team Meeting on MMU

Thursday - PM

2pm Introduction to Palliative Rehabilitation with Physiotherapist

3pm Introduction to Complex Discharge Planning in terminal illness

Friday - AM

Hospital Palliative Care Team Ward Visits

Friday - PM

2pm Introduction to Personalised Care Plan for the Last Days of Life with End of Life Care Nurse

4pm Debrief / sign off