Risley-based Treetops Hospice Care has launched a Cake & Care scheme to deliver baked goods to its most vulnerable patients.

A team of staff and volunteers are delivering bags of baked goods featuring fruit cake, brownies and orange drizzle cakes with frosting to patients’ homes. The Cake & Care packs include messages of support, craft activities and puzzles.

After the decision to suspend some of its activity due to the coronavirus pandemic, staff turned the kitchen into a bakery, producing daily homemade treats.

On arriving at a patient’s home, the team sanitise their hands with alcohol gel and stand back to maintain social distancing recommendations, said the company. They leave the Cake & Care pack within reach, step back again and re-sanitise their hands.

“It is vital for us to support our most vulnerable patients during these challenging times. We want to reduce social isolation and maintain their links with Treetops,” said Alison Jordan, senior staff nurse at Treetops.

“We want to lift people’s moods, allow them to enjoy a treat and get some distraction from the terrible situation we find ourselves in today with the covid-19 pandemic.”

There may be a £1.4m loss in income in the coming months, due to the temporary closure of charity shops and postponement or cancellation of fundraising events, it added.

Treetops has also launched an appeal, asking for donations via its website to ensure it can continue Hospice at Home end-of-life nursing care throughout the pandemic.