information · one double room which are designed to be comfortable and homely. they all have...

Information

I n t r o d u c t I o n

W h a t I s P a l l I a t I v e c a r e ?

Having a life-threatening illness such as cancer or other serious condition should not mean that life itself grinds to a halt. There are times when,

despite the best efforts and advances in modern medicine, there needs to be a shift in focus from curing to caring. St Richard’s Hospice works to help

people make the best of their lives despite the effects of their illness. We do this by listening to patients and their families and finding out how we

can minimise the impact of their pain and other symptoms, fears and anxieties.

The care we provide is tailored to the individual needs of each patient. Plenty of time is allowed for people to talk. Staff are available who are trained to a specialist level and trained volunteers give their time to provide practical support and assistance.

Caring for life St Richard’s Hospice exists to enhance, through specialist palliative care and education, the quality of life of patients and those important to them, suffering from cancer or other life-threatening illnesses.

This is best described as “whole person” care. Our aim is to respond to all the needs a

patient and family may have when serious illness strikes, be that pain and symptom

control, physical problems, spiritual, emotional, social or intellectual. Palliative

care should be available for people whether they are undergoing treatment to cure their

disease or whether they are being treated and supported when cure is no longer a

possibility. This may be supporting a patient and family with a comfortable death and

on into bereavement.

3For more information visit www.strichards.org.uk

W h o a r e W e ?

St Richard’s Hospice was established in 1984 and is a local independent, Worcestershire charity. It is one of almost 200 hospices in the country caring for people with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. We work closely with general practitioners, district nurses, hospital doctors and nurses, from whom we receive most of our referrals and who look to us to provide the specialist palliative care in the area. We support over 2,300 patients and families across our area each year.

Our team of palliative care specialists has the knowledge and skills to help people cope with the impact of their illness. The team is made up of our own doctors, nurses, social worker and counsellors working alongside highly trained volunteers. Nearly 900

volunteers presently carry out work for us in one way or another.

Our patients come from a range of age groups and we offer care and support to individuals throughout all stages of their illness. This also includes those who are newly

diagnosed with curable conditions and who may need that little bit of extra support while they are learning to adapt to their illness and treatments. Happily we are able to discharge a number of patients back to full lives in their communities.

StandardsAs with all other health care organisa-tions, the work of St Richard’s Hospice is subject to inspection and regulation. Within the organisation we practice Clinical Governance and fully comply with the Care Standard’s Act 2000. All staff and volunteers are governed by a strict confidentiality policy and abide by professional practice guidelines.

We always try to treat our patients and their families with respect and kind ness and appreciate our staff and volunteers being treated in the same way.

In order to protect our staff working out in the community, they carry devices that can monitor and record conversations. They can summon support services and the recordings may be used in court proceedings.

CostNo charge is made to patients and families for any of our services. This is made possible due to the generosity of our donors and supporters.

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h o W d o W e W o r k ?

Our work includes many varied services for both patients and the

community at large. These are:

page

Nurse Specialists 5

Hospice at Home 6

The In-patient Unit 7

Day Hospice 8

Therapies 9

Family Support Service 10

Citizens Advice 11

Family Support Service – Children and Family 12

Spiritual Care & Chaplaincy 13

Volunteers 15

Education, Resource and Information Centre 16

One of our main aims is to enable patients to stay at home where possible, providing our care alongside their own doctors and nurses with the back up of the Day Hospice. When appropriate, patients may be admitted to the In-patient Unit for a period of care.

How can I be referred? Patients who would like support from St Richard’s can be referred by their general practitioner, consultant at the hospital, district nurse, relative or friend. They can also self refer.

In all cases the general practitioner, who is the key person in charge of that patient’s care, will be contacted. We will then phone to arrange a convenient date and time to visit so that we can discuss and plan the support that we can offer and the care that may be needed. At all stages we will work in partnership with the community teams and acute hospital services involved in the patient’s care.

We value and practice open communication, and throughout the time in our care, patients will be totally involved in any of the decisions which may affect them or their family member.


s t r I c h a r d ’ s n u r s e s P e c I a l I s t s

A team of nurse specialists, doctors, social worker, physio,

counsellors, Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) advisor and trained volunteers

are available to support patients and families in their own homes.

Nurse specialistsOn receiving a referral and speaking

to the patient’s own GP, the nurse specialist will make an appointment to see the patient either at home, at St Richard’s Hospice or within clinics held in GP practices. They spend time listening and identifying problems and anxieties.

Our nurses are trained to restore confidence and control back into the lives of patients and families

affected by illness and treatments and will refer patients to other areas of our service or to be discharged as appropriate.

Doctors – work with the St Richard’s Nurse Specialists advising on pain and symptom management. They can, with the agreement of the patient’s own doctor, visit at home to advise on the most complex situations. Our doctors work closely with local consultants in palliative medicine and consultant oncologists for the county.

Social Workers and Counsellors– focus their knowledge on the emotional, psychological and financial support of patients and their families. They provide individual one to one sessions, family therapy and experienced counselling should this be needed. Working with the nurse specialists they can either visit at home or see patients and families within the hospice by appointment.

Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) Advisor– provides information and advice on a variety of issues such as welfare benefits, debt, housing, employment and legal issues. They can assist with paperwork, and act as advocate and negotiator.

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h o s P I c e a t h o m e

Our Hospice at Home Nursing Service is intended for patients with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses who wish to spend the final days of their

life at home.Patients will be assessed by a professional from St Richard’s Hospice to determine individual needs, and the choice of place of care. This will enable our services to organise appropriate, urgent overnight or daytime periods of care for patients

within the privacy of their own home, should that be their wish.

The service will run alongside care given by other voluntary and statutory providers.


t h e I n - P a t I e n t u n I t

The In-patient Unit (IPU) provides specialist palliative care, taking into account the physical, psychological,

social and spiritual needs of the patient and their family.

The IPU cares for a maximum of 16 patients. Currently, there are eight single rooms; two three-bedded rooms and one double room which are designed to be comfortable and homely. They all have ensuite facilities and access to their own private patio area. There are also two rooms that provide a space for relatives to sleep and rest.

Our aim is to provide specialist care and support which is totally patient

centred, responding to their particular needs and concerns. This care is provided by the multi-professional team which includes medical and nursing teams, chaplaincy, family support, physio and occupational therapy and volunteers.

Patients can be admitted for the control of symptoms, pain management or for end of life care. The average length of stay is between 10 to 14 days. The IPU cannot off er a long term admission so if discharge is appropriate, the patient and their family will be totally involved in their future place of care.

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d a y h o s P I c e

Some people like to attend our Day Hospice for an initial assessment to see if they might enjoy a special day with time for themselves and to provide a

break for their carers.

Here they will receive individual care from our specialist professional team of doctors, nurses, therapists, chaplains and trained volunteers. We can provide them with comfort, friendship and excellent food!

Complementary therapies, physiotherapy, access to occupational

therapy advice, massage and aromatherapy, a relaxing bath, hairdressing, diversional therapy with art and creative activities are all available to provide an enjoyable and supportive day. With regular attendance our team is able to monitor any changes in treatments, symptoms or concerns and will work closely with general practitioners.

Discharge from the Day Hospice may be appropriate once problems have been ironed out and future visits at a later date will be discussed.


t h e r a P I e s

We offer a number of therapies to support our patients and families. These include:

Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapists working with patients and

their families in the In-patient unit, Day Hospice and at home to re-adapt and

restore a level of independence and function acceptable to the patient within

the limitation of their disease.

Complementary therapies – are available to our patients, carers and the bereaved:

n Aromatherapy Massagen Reflexologyn Reikin Indian Head Massagen Shiatsun ‘M’ Techniquen Relaxation

Creative therapyIn Day Hospice patients are given the opportunity to work with a Creative Therapist and a team of volunteers whose experiences as artists and craftspeople allow the patients to explore a wide variety of techniques.

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F a m I l y s u P P o r t s e r v I c e

CounsellingSt Richard’s Hospice offers a Counselling Service to our patients, their family, relatives, friends and carers. This is a free and confidential service. All of our counsellors belong to the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and adhere to their Ethical Framework for Good Practice.

Our counsellors aim to provide support for those experiencing emotions and anxieties associated with life-limiting illness, bereavement and loss. They can provide a safe and quiet place where thoughts and emotions can be freely expressed in a non-judgmental environment. Counselling can help in finding ways of expressing

sentiments that have been difficult to share with those who are close. It can also help in finding ways of making sense of mixed feelings, and offers support to untangle confusion and uncertainty. Sharing thoughts and emotions with someone who is not directly involved can help in regaining control and restoring balance to life.

Bereavement ServiceThe majority of families cope with death as a very normal, but difficult, part of life. They do not need bereavement support from the St Richard’s team but just knowing that support is available can sometimes make the difference in helping them to live with their loss. Others need more help. When someone close to us dies, we all react in different ways. It can be a very confusing time with mixed thoughts and emotions. Some people may not show or feel any emotions at all. Grieving takes many different shapes and forms and is an individual experience. It can be experienced immediately or later – there are no set time scales.

For these reasons St Richard’s offers very individual support, starting with the nurse specialist / social worker / family therapist involved with them pre-death. Our bereavement team will


then contact the bereaved and offer support, either on a one to one basis or by giving them the opportunity to join a group of people who may have experienced a similar loss. Telephone support is also available.

Our bereavement team is made up of trained counsellors, social worker and trained family support workers.

Social WorkThe Palliative Care Social Worker at St Richard’s provides specialist knowledge and advice for patients, family, friends and carers alike. Concerns often arise as a person’s social network struggles to adapt and issues such as finances, relationships and the ability to complete routine daily living tasks become problematic. Support is provided through one to one support or group work and the opportunity to talk through these concerns is often the gateway to better understanding and acceptance. In addition, when it becomes appropriate for a patient to be discharged from the In-patient Unit, help with accessing community care services, housing departments and social services is also possible. This service is supported by Student Social Workers who use this opportunity to develop excellent communication skills and build upon their core social work values.

c I t I z e n s a d v I c eCAB provides practical advice, information and representation

where appropriate on a variety of issues including grant applications; welfare benefits; employment; housing; debt and other financial concerns.

The Adviser is also able to signpost or refer the client on to specialist services when needed.

Our CAB support is part of a fully integrated package of holistic care.

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Fa m I ly s u P P o r t s e r v I c e – c h I l d r e n & Fa m I ly

A life threatening illness can cause enormous changes within a family. Children and adolescents will sense the feelings of people around them,

they will have different needs depending on age and development, but they will all need information, reassurance, and the opportunity

to express their feelings.

Our service is able to support families as a whole or individuals within the family at what can be a very difficult and stressful time. We offer advice on how to give honest information to children in a safe way and how to handle questions, which can be difficult to answer when someone is unwell, or when a family is bereaved.

Children are given the opportunity to join a group where they meet other children who are going through similar experiences: it can be very helpful to know that they are not the only ones facing such difficulties.

Our professional team will work closely with other hospice professionals, GPs, health visitors, schools and other voluntary agencies in order to support children and their families.

Support for CarersThe Carers Support Groups meet

regularly at St Richard’s Hospice. The aim is to provide a venue for carers to meet and share experiences. Additionally the groups provide opportunity for education, recreation, support and care for carers.


s P I r I t u a l c a r e a n d c h a P l a I n c y

All definitions of hospice and palliative care talk of four key ingredients. St Richard’s offers high quality care in all four areas – physical, emotional, spiritual and social – with the Chaplaincy Team leading on the provision of Spiritual Care.

A team of one full time member of staff and 14 volunteers seeks to support patients, relatives, staff and volunteers by offering pastoral and spiritual care. The team – being multi denominational itself – readily supports people of all faiths and philosophies.

The team is organised to allow full involvement in the Day Hospice and the In-patient Unit. In addition

we offer a Sunday morning In-patient Unit chaplaincy, an on-call provision (24/7, 365 days a year) and a specialist ministers (multi-faith) directory. We also offer a funerals service for those with a connection to St Richard’s and no particular connection to a faith community.

We are exploring ways of allowing the community teams to access

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spiritual care resources more easily. This is a natural development given the increasing number of community referrals already being received by the chaplaincy team. The team is also the main point of liaison between the hospice and the clergy and other faith leaders in the community.

Organised jointly with the Family Support Team, the Memorial Services, with around one hundred people coming on each occasion, are significant events in the life of the hospice.

Organised jointly with the Fundraising Team, our Tree of Life services – individual memorial leaves can be hung in our garden – is meeting a very fast growing need. If you would like to explore the possibility of placing an engraved leaf in our garden in memory of someone you love, please contact the Fundraising Team on 01905 763963.

In the Sacred Space visitors can light a candle, add a prayer or a memory in the books provided, come to see our Book of Remembrance, ask a chaplain to say a prayer or just take advantage of the peace and quiet. The Chaplaincy offers regular opportunities for prayer and meditation in the Space and keeps it well stocked with materials to aid private reflection.


v o l u n t e e r s

Volunteers carry out a wide variety of roles within the hospice. They help on reception, in the Snowdrop Community Care Centre, in Day Hospice and on the In-patient Unit. Volunteers drive patients and clients to the hospice and other appointments and provide a

sitting service in patients’ homes which gives carers important time off. They also provide valuable support to the complementary therapy and Family Support Services as well as a range of administrative roles.

Trained volunteers bring their life skills and experience to our hospice team.

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educatIon, resource and InFormatIon centre

St Richard’s Hospice is a major provider of palliative care education across Worcestershire and the surrounding region. The education team

comprises teaching staff, visiting experts and an administrator with support from volunteer librarians. The Education and Resource Centre provides

dedicated facilities that include a specialist library which can be accessed by health professionals from across the county.

Our aim is to develop the practice of health professionals working in palliative care. Our programmes are designed to enhance knowledge and skills for supporting patients and families living with life-threatening illnesses. This is achieved through the provision of an innovative range of accredited courses, specialist study days and flexible learning options which are held at the hospice or the workplace.

Clinical placements are provided for health care professionals as part of individual professional development

programmes or as placements undertaken from nursing and medical courses.

The Education and Resource Centre works with the University of Worcester, the independent sector and other health care organisations to establish courses that positively influence the quality of care for patients and families.


h o W a r e W e F u n d e d ?

St Richard’s is an independent hospice that relies mainly on voluntary income to enable it to continue to provide the vital services as described in the booklet.

Although we receive some statutory funding, most of our income is derived from voluntary donations. These include gifts of money or gifts in kind, events, gifts in Wills and grants from trusts and other grant making bodies. We also benefit from company and business sponsorship, employee fundraising, donations from organisations and donations in memoriam, including many people who set up a Forget-Me-Not Tribute Fund as a unique and lasting way to remember someone dear to their hearts. As we strive to create more sustainable income we are also extremely grateful to those who give regularly through standing orders or payroll giving.

We have volunteer fundraising groups who organise regular events and assist with shop and street collections as well as supporters who place collecting boxes in local community outlets.

Many people also help us by taking part in the various sponsored challenges we hold such as energetically walking 31 miles in a day or sitting elegantly in a marquee sipping champagne at one of our prestigious lunches or dinners. In addition to raising crucial funds, these events, along with the regular information we give to the media, also keeps St Richard’s Hospice’s profile high letting people know about the vital services we can provide.

We could not continue without the support of the local community and have detailed various ways in which support can be given on the inside back page of this leaflet.

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s o m a n y W a y s t o h e l P s t r I c h a r d ’ s

Join one of our fun events, challenge yourself to the experience of a lifetime or make a donation. There are all sorts of ways in which individuals, groups, companies and schools can help us to keep on providing our care and support for patients and families. This year we need to raise more than £5.5m to continue our care.

n There is lots more information available on our website www.strichards.org.uk/fundraising

n Join us on Facebook www.facebook.com/strichards

n and twitter www.twitter.com/strichardshosp

It’s very simple to help St Richard’s by donating or raising funds in a way that suits you and benefits the hospice.


s t r I c h a r d ’ s h o s P I c e s h o P s

St Richard’s Hospice has 17 shops based across Worcestershire selling a variety of goods that have been donated by the generous public.

Our shops consist of two furniture shops which also sell electrical items; a book shop which has approx imately 15,000 books on show from paperbacks to rare collectables, and general charity shops offering a wide variety of women’s and men’s clothing, a good quantity of quality bric-a-brac – all supported by over 300 volunteers.

We also offer a collection service for large quantities of donations, particularly furniture. To do this call 01905 745495.

St Richard’s Hospice shops are there to provide a much-needed income to help run the patient care services. Therefore, high standards and high quality donations are essential for our business, to maximise the value of the

goods which are donated.

Our shops also play an important part in spreading the word about the work of St Richard’s Hospice.

They act as a focal point for local people to pick up information on the hospice and its services and also events.

Our shops are now supported by our warehouse at Leigh Sinton where stock is pre-sorted in readiness for the shops. Along with this we have a house to house collection service operating on a daily basis where donations can be left on the door step for us to collect. Further to the shops, our latest development has been the use of Gift Aid on donated goods where we can claim back the tax paid on the items that we sell. This we believe will be a big opportunity for the future enabling us to increase our income as people get to know of this new system.

It is essential to the shops operation that we constantly recruit new volunteers, so please, if you have spare time, contact us.

If you can help in any way by donating items, or to volunteer in our shops, please contact St Richard’s Hospice Shops & Commercial Director on 01905 763963.

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o u r a I m s

St Richard’s aims to be a leader in the provision of end of life care, support and training, to all patients, their carers and those important to them,

in partnership with other providers.

We aim to:

n Maximise the quality of life of adult patients who have a life threatening illness.

n Create a safe and caring environment by offering physical, emotional and spiritual support to patients and their families.

n Enable patients to gain freedom from distressing symptoms.

n Relieve patients and families from the stress brought about by active and progressive disease.

n Enable and empower communities to support patients with end of life care needs, and their families, locally.

On behalf of our patients and families we aim to:

n Work towards quality of life acceptable to them.

n Enable them to enjoy life to the maximum ability.

n Encompass all of them in care, ensuring those who die do so with dignity.

n Help provide care in a place chosen by them, surrounded by people important to them.

Statement on euthanasiaEuthanasia and Physician Assisted Suicide are illegal in the United Kingdom. Medical, nursing and other caring staff work within the law in the provision of services to our patients. In line with the World Health Organisation statement on palliative care, St Richard’s Hospice seeks to ‘neither prolong nor hasten death’, concentrating exclusively on the best possible care and symptom control, and aims to provide support and dignity to patients and families when the time of natural death is reached.


c o n t a c t s , s u g g e s t I o n s a n d c o m m e n t s

St Richard’s Hospice aims to make sure that all users of our services

receive the best quality of care and service. We welcome any suggestions

which you feel would add to the comfort and wellbeing of those in our care. We recognise the value

that complaints, suggestions and constructive criticism, as well as compliments can provide. This

will assist us in maintaining and developing a better quality and a high

standard of care for our patients.

St Richard’s Hospice conforms to the Care Standard’s Act 2000 and is inspected by the Care Quality Commission.

If you or your family would like to compliment, comment or complain about any of the services provided by our organisation please don’t hesitate to contact:-

June Patelcare director, st richard’s hospice, Wildwood drive, Worcester Wr5 2Qt. tel: 01905 763963

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h o W t o F I n d s t r I c h a r d ’ s h o s P I c e

By Road From M5 Junct 6 and Droitwich:At Sixways take A4440 Warndon Way. At first roundabout follow the A4440 by turning left onto Parsonage Way/Trotshill Way/Grange Way/Nunnery Way. At the fourth roundabout turn right onto Wildwood Drive and St Richard’s Hospice is on the left.

From M5 Junct 7 and Pershore:Take A44 towards City Centre. At second roundabout turn right onto Swineherds Way, A4440. At first roundabout turn left onto Wildwood Drive and St Richard’s Hospice is on the left.

From City Centre:Take London Road, A44, out of City towards M5 South. At first roundabout after the New College Worcester (NCW) turn left onto Swineherds Way, A4440. At first roundabout turn left onto Wildwood Drive and St Richard’s Hospice is on the left.

From Malvern:Take A449 towards Worcester. Turn right on A4440, Temeside Way/Broomhall Way/ Crookbarrow Way. At the third roundabout turn left onto Whittington Road. At the next roundabout turn right onto Swineherds Way, A4440. At first roundabout turn left onto Wildwood Drive and St Richard’s Hospice is on the left.

By RailThere are two British Rail stations at Worcester, Foregate Street and Shrub Hill. A taxi rank is situated outside both stations.

By BUS The Hospice is served by a regular bus service. The No. 44 bus runs from Crowngate Bus Station to County Hall and stops both at the entrance to County Hall and at the stop on Wildwood Drive, alongside the Hospice. (For more information and timetables call 0870 608 2608). The Hospice is accessible to cyclists and cycle sheds are provided on the car park.

Wildwood drive


h o W y o u c a n h e l P

oNE oFF doNaTioN A one off donation of: £________________ (please state amount).

Please make cheques payable to St Richard’s Hospice or please debit my credit card

VISA / CAF / MASTERCARD / DEBIT CARD

Number _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Valid from _____________________ to _____________________ Issue No _____________________ Expiry date _______________________

Security Code ____________________

Signature _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Name ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Address _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________ Post code _________________________________

Gift Aid. Please treat all donations I’ve made in the last six years and all donations I make in the future as Gift Aid donations unless I notify you otherwise. (This means we can reclaim the tax you have paid on this donation. To qualify for Gift Aid you should pay enough income tax and/or UK capital gains tax to cover the amount we will reclaim. Please tick the box if you agree.

Signed _______________________________________________________________________________________ Date ________________________________________

REGUlaR GiViNG Please contact Fundraising on 01905 763963 for a standing order form

oNliNEyou can set up a one off or monthly payment from your debit or credit card online. Visit www.justgiving.com/strichards/donate and follow the instructions.

Please send me further information on:

i would like to support the work of St Richard’s Hospice by:

Becoming a volunteer at the hospice

Becoming a fundraising volunteer

Organising a fundraising event

Payroll giving

Employee fundraising

Sponsoring an event

Hospice lottery

Donating goods to, or helping in, our local hospice shops

Leaving a gift in your Will

Donations in Memoriam

Spreading the word and encouraging friends, neighbours and colleagues to support St Richard’s

Regular giving

Please return this slip to:The Fundraising department, St Richard’s Hospice, Wildwood drive, Worcester WR5 2QTTel: 01905 763963 Email: [email protected]

st richard’s hospiceWildwood drive

Worcester Wr5 2Qt

tel. 01905 763963Fax. 01905 351911

email : [email protected]: www.strichards.org.uk.

registered charity no. 515668

© St Richard’s Hospice. January 2012

information · one double room which are designed to be comfortable and homely. they all have...

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