Q. How many patients stay at the hospice?
There are 19 beds available. Most of the beds
are in shared rooms. A limited number of single
occupancy rooms are available. These are often
required to accommodate patients with particular
needs that may be best met in single occupancy
rooms.
Q. Is the Hospice like a nursing home?
We are a specialist palliative care unit providing
active treatment for the management of pain and
other symptoms. St Catherine’s is not a nursing
home and we are unable to provide long term
care.
Q. What does "palliative" mean?
Care given for illnesses which are treatable but
not curable.
Q. Do patients have to pay to come into the
Hospice?
Care and treatment is provided free of
charge.
Q. How can patients be admitted to the Hospice?
Patients may be admitted following a referral by
either their G.P. or Hospital Consultant.
Requests for admission are discussed to facilitate
the best use of resources; occasionally,
alternative solutions meet the needs of the
patient.
Q. Are patients admitted at weekends and Bank
Holidays?
This is not commonly done as we try to plan admissions
to the hospice in advance. However, in
certain circumstance, admissions sometimes
happen at weekends.
Q. Who looks after the patients?
The hospice works as a team. The team is multidisciplinary
including qualified nurses, nursing
assistants, doctors, physiotherapists, social
workers, chaplaincy, housekeeping and catering
staff.
Q. What sort of care is available for patients?
Hospice care is based on the principle of caring
for the whole person. We aim to provide care
for the physical, emotional, spiritual and social
aspects of each individual.
Q. What does physical care involve?
This may involve relief of symptoms such as pain
or sickness. Blood transfusions and other
intravenous treatments may be carried out.
General nursing and readaption are offered to
achieve the best level of function for each patient.
Q. What does emotional and social care involve?
Having the time to talk about problems and fears,
whilst developing ways and skills to cope with
stressful situations.
Q. What is spiritual care?
Some patients, whatever their creed or faith, may
want to explore feelings or questions about their
situation. We aim to give people the opportunity
and time to do this. In doing so, we hope to enable
people to find a sense of peace and share this with
those that matter to them.
Q. What about religious needs?
The Hospice provides care for those of any
religion or none. Facilities are available for
patients of all faiths to fulfil their religious
observances. Links are easily made with leaders
of other faiths as the need arises.
Q. If patients are very poorly would they be
resuscitated?
For patients in the later stages of their illness,
resuscitation would be an ineffective and
inappropriate treatment. The Hospice does not
have full resuscitation facilities. Each patient’s
care is considered and planned individually, if
resuscitation is considered appropriate, and the
situation arose, the paramedics would be called
and the patient transferred to hospital. If this is an
issue that concerns you, please discuss it withyour doctor or nurse.
Q. Can patients keep their hospital appointments?
Yes. Hospice staff work closely with their
colleagues in the hospital to ensure that
appointments for treatment, investigations or
with other specialists are kept.
Q. If patients needed treatment that is not available
in the Hospice, what would happen?
Following discussion between patients and
nursing or medical staff, patients maybe be
transferred to hospital if needed.
Q. Are complementary therapies available?
Yes. Aromatherapy, massage and reflexology
are available.
Q. Can you provide special diets if needed?
Our experienced catering team will cater for
most dietary and religious requirememnts,
including the provision of Halal food.
Q. What about visiting hours?
We do not have formal visiting hours. To enable
patients to rest, we ask that visitors do not
overwhelm patients If there is a wish for a
member of the family or close friend to stay
overnight, this can be arranged. Children are
always welcome but must be supervised by a
responsible adult.
Q. Can the family help care for the patient?
Patients sometimes want their family and friends
to help with care. Often, partners, families and
friends will have been providing care at home.
Please discuss your wishes with one of the team
who will ensure your wishes are included in the
plan of care. However, we recognise that carers
need to feel that they too can benefit from the
admission and have a rest. We are happy to do
the caring and allow others to concentrate on the
loving.
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