Welcome to the Inpatient Unit
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I knew as soon as I walked through the door that it was totally different to any other care I had seen. Nothing is too much trouble.
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Welcome Welcome to St Luke’s Hospice. We are a small hospice with a big heart and we hope that you and your family will find a safe refuge here during your stay. We know that this can be a difficult time and it is our priority to make your stay as comfortable as possible. If you have questions that are not answered in this booklet then please do ask any member of staff.
When you arrive On admission you will be assessed by our experienced clinical team. They will ask you questions about your illness and how you have been managing at home. They will also try to answer any questions you have about your care. Relevant information will be shared with other members of the hospice team such as doctors, nurses and occupational therapists, so that we can provide effective care tailored to your specific needs. From time to time you may also meet medical or nursing students on the ward as St Luke’s provides specialist training in palliative care.
On the ward The ward has two three-bedded, single sex bays and four side rooms and you will be allocated the bed that best suits your individual needs. There are never more than ten patients on the ward at one time, so this ensures everyone has the individual care that they need. You will have access to your own Smart TV at your bedside and can access the internet from your mobile devices (please ask a staff member for the wifi password). Any electrical items that you bring from home must be checked, for health and safety reasons, prior to use. You can use your own mobile phone to keep in touch with your family but we request that the volume is turned down to minimise any disturbance to other patients. There is also a cordless phone on the ward that family may ring if they wish to speak to you.
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From the moment we came in, I felt an enormous sense of peace and the kindness and respect you showed was beyond words
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Belongings
Please bring your own toiletries, night clothes, day clothes and slippers as well as any spectacles or hearing aids that you need. There is no need to bring towels as they will be provided for you. Valuables are brought in at your own risk. We do have a hospice safe which staff can advise you about if you carry significant quantities of cash, but we would advise you to leave valuable items and cash at home as we are unable to take responsibility for them.
Medication Please bring your current medicines with you when you are admitted to the hospice. The doctor will review the medicines that you have brought with you and may retain them on the ward for your use. Your relative or carer may be asked to take the medications that are not required back home. Following discussion with you, the doctor or advanced nurse practitioner may change your medication on admission or during your stay. Medication rounds take place at 8am, 2pm, 8pm and 10pm. Medication can be given at other times if necessary. Talk to one of our staff if you have any concerns. Visitors are respectfully asked to avoid approaching nursing staff during medication rounds.
Resuscitation policy Hospice care places emphasis on comfort, management of symptoms and quality of life. Resuscitation may not be appropriate, however this can be discussed on an individual basis.
Friends and family
Your friends and family can visit you at any time, though we would ask them to be mindful of your need to rest for periods during the day and to respect the need for medical staff to spend time with you at certain times. Children are welcome at the hospice but must be supervised at all times. Your pets are also welcome to visit as long as they have adequate supervision while they are on the hospice premises, but please discuss this with nursing staff first. We want your family to be comfortable while they are visiting you. They can join you at meal times and can order sandwiches or the hot meal of the day and they can make themselves a drink in the patients’ kitchen just next to the dining room. The dining room is also home to the confectionary trolley, offering a selection of snacks and drinks for you to purchase. We do not charge for meals but donations are welcome and there are donation boxes on the Inpatient Unit. Visitors are asked to sign in at reception on arrival and to sign out before departing. The reception doors are locked at night and visitors will need to use the intercom system to alert the nurses of their presence.
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Thank you for making me and my family feel so welcome when we visited, it meant a lot to us that the children could visit their Granny
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Carer participation If a visiting relative is accustomed to caring for you at home and would like to assist with your care on the ward, while they are visiting, please feel free to discuss this with a nurse.
Infection control Please remind your visitors that it is essential to use the alcohol gel provided at the entrance of the ward, on arrival and on leaving. Our patients often have low resistance to infection, so we would request that if visitors knowingly have an infection that may be passed on they ask for advice from the nurse in charge before visiting.
Visitor accommodation There is a small amount of basic accommodation on site for close family or friends to stay overnight if needed. Check availability with nursing staff if you would like to take advantage of this. Toilets for visitors are positioned at the far side of reception.
Family Support and Counselling Here at St Luke’s, we pride ourselves on looking after the whole family. We can support patients and their families through this difficult time, helping to maintain health and wellbeing. Counselling services are available for both children and adults and can be accessed initially by asking a member of the nursing team.
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St Luke’s is supporting my whole family, I don’t know how we’d cope without them.
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Daily routine and facilities Patient care is given on an individual basis and hygiene needs are most often met between 8am and midday. It would be helpful to hospice staff (and nicer for you) if you have a supply of your own favourite toiletries with you. Breakfast (8am), lunch (midday) and tea (5pm) are served at set times. Many patients enjoy particular foods brought in from home, so if you have any favourite snacks please bring them in (please ask a member of the nursing staff to show you the patients’ fridge for foods that need to be kept refrigerated) as well as any cordial that you prefer. Drinks are available from the kitchen at any time and special diets can be catered for where possible. Staff handover takes place three times a day with nurse reports taking place at 7.30am, 1.30pm and 9pm. This ensures consistency of care and means that our nursing staff are always aware of your most up-to-date care needs. Ward rounds take place throughout the week. If you wish to speak to a doctor regarding your treatment, please speak to a member of the nursing team who will arrange for you to see someone. Length of stay on the Inpatient Unit is usually between one and two weeks, depending on your individual needs. It may be necessary to discuss discharge home, with support in place, or to transfer to an alternative care setting, such as a nursing home. There is a multidisciplinary approach to all care at St Luke’s and any future care plans will be discussed with you.
Occupational Health Therapy We have an occupational therapist who can help with regaining confidence in daily activities. The therapist can arrange the provision of any aids you may need to maintain or improve your independence both here and on discharge. The therapist helps to instil an enabling approach to care across the hospice.
During your stay There are a number of projects and services that may be of interest to you during your stay with us: Complementary therapies for health and wellbeing, such as Reiki, Reflexology and hand and foot massage may be available. Complementary therapies can be used safely alongside conventional medical treatments to help patients to feel better physically, emotionally and psychologically. Treatments can relieve symptoms and side effects of treatment and can also aid relaxation. Ask your nurse for more information if this is something you are interested in.
Spiritual and religious care. The Chapel is open 24 hours every day and has been set aside as a space for quiet reflection, led meditation and services. Both you and your visitors are welcome to come in, relax and enjoy the peace and calm of this room. The Chaplaincy Team at St Luke’s comes from different backgrounds, faith journeys and professions and is available to talk to patients, relatives and friends of any or no faith. They provide a safe non-judgemental environment where you can be supported. A weekly communion service is held in the hospice Chapel and communion is also available to everyone on a one-to-one basis.
Making Memories. The Making Memories project gives you the opportunity to create a unique audio recording of your life experiences. Many people find telling their story interesting and are pleased to be able to place their memories on record. If you wish to take part, one of our trained volunteer interviewers will meet with you so you can recall your life experiences informally and in your own time. It’s a chance to talk about anything that you want to, and we will give you copies of the recording for you and your family members to enjoy, free of charge. Creating Memory Treasures for children. Developing a memory box or book has been found to offer comfort and support to children when they feel the need to connect to a loved one. A Memory Treasure can include information about your childhood, your hobbies and interests and memories of milestones in your life to date. It might include photos of you with your child, small objects that might act as a memory prompt or a list of your wishes for your child’s future. If you would like help or guidance with creating a Memory Treasure ask a member of staff for more information.
Social worker and benefits advisor It can be hard to know which way to turn at times, especially when you are affected by a life-limiting illness. If you or your family need help with a social, financial or personal issue our social workers are on hand to help you to find practical solutions to everyday difficulties. The very approachable team at St Luke’s consists of two social workers and one benefits advisor who can provide you with up-to-date information to help you navigate your way through financial worries, extra expenses or reduced income brought about by your illness. Our goal is to support you, your family and your support networks as you face new and often difficult challenges. You can call the team directly on 01606 555694 or, specifically for benefits advice, on 01606 555699. They are here to help and advise you.
Useful information Car parking Parking is usually available at the front of the hospice. If the car park is full there are alternatives. Please ask your visitors to discuss this with the nursing staff. Vehicles are left at owner’s risk. Complaints and compliments Feedback cards are available throughout the hospice and we would encourage both you and your visitors to use them. If you have any criticisms, complaints or suggestions for improvements please do let us know. However if something needs more urgent attention don’t wait to fill in a card – speak to someone directly. It is always nice to hear positive feedback too so that we can recognise members of staff or specific services that have delivered above your expectations. Fire alarm testing There will be a fire alarm test every Thursday morning at 11am. Laundry We will place your dirty laundry in the bottom drawer of your locker for relatives to take home. Please label clothes for identification. Merchandise in reception We hold a small display of cards and gifts in the hospice shop, located at the main reception desk. Please purchase items whilst a receptionist is on duty as nursing staff are unable to help with shop purchases. Smoking St Luke’s is a non-smoking hospice. Visitors are not permitted to smoke in the hospice or in the grounds of the hospice. If you need to smoke, please speak to staff and they will advise you on where smoking is allowed outside the grounds. Provision is made for patients only to smoke, if necessary, between the hours of 8am and 10pm, in a designated area. E-cigarettes are prohibited.
Grosvenor House, Queensway, Winsford, Cheshire CW7 1BH Registered Charity No. 515595
T 01606 551246 Inpatient Unit direct dial 01606 555489 www.slhospice.co.uk