Background With a long waiting list and staff therapists working from home, we came up with very creative ideas to continue to provide therapeutic support during the pandemic. Complementary therapies to help improve energy levels, support with breathlessness, reduce anxiety and stress, help with medication, help with relaxation, improve mood and aid sleep.

Aim(s) To continue to provide complementary therapies to patients on the Therapeutic Programme, Outpatients, Carers and Bereaved, Inpatients.

Methods We continue to provide one-to-one complementary therapies to people on our caseload including teaching carers, self-massage, Indian Head Massage, Relaxation Therapy and HEARTS Therapy. All treatments are carried out virtually under the guidance of a qualified complementary therapist. Feedback cards are completed and returned to us; reporting high quality therapy treatments have continued throughout the pandemic.

Results Pre-pandemic 2019; 133 aromatherapy massages and 270 reflexology treatments were given.

Pandemic, 2020-2021; 43 HEARTS treatments, 77 massage therapy and 87 relaxation therapy treatments were given, indicating a positive shift away from hands-on to talking therapies.

Jan. 2019 to May 2019 – 321 treatments were given; Jan. 2020 to May 2020 – 139 treatments were given; Jan. 2021 to May 2021 – 243 treatments were given.

Complementary therapies remained ever popular during lockdown.

Conclusions The complementary therapy team intend to provide a hybrid model of care in the future with virtual therapy treatments alongside face-to-face for patients, carers and bereaved. This will enable us to support a wider spectrum of people in South Worcestershire.