What is Hospice Care all about?
Patient in Hospice's
Day Therapy Unit
Hospice Care is all about the family - a partnership with the community of the Isle of Man. It is about living, not dying. Helping people with life limiting illness such as cancer, live their lives as comfortably and fully as possible.
Hospice Care is free to all. Hospice makes no charge, nor asks for any payment from patients or their families. Our service is for young and old, rich and poor and makes no distinction between race or creed. Hospice Care is paid for by the generosity of the people of the Isle of Man, out of concern for their families and neighbours.
There were almost 300 new patient referrals to Hospice Care in 2006.
Specialist nursing
This family service commenced in 1984 with home care, firstly one specialist nurse and a doctor following rapidly with a second nurse. Gradually over the years Hospice has built up a team of six palliative care specialist nurses - four in the community serving various areas of the Island and two based at Noble's and Ramsey Cottage Hospitals. These nurses advise on matters such as pain and symptom control, provide support to patients and their families and also deliver education and training programmes on the principles and practice of palliative care to health care professionals.
Children's Hospice - Rebecca House
Rebecca House is a purpose built children’s hospice forming an integral part of Hospice, Isle of Man, which opened at the end of 2007. Henry Bloom Nobles Healthcare Trust made a generous donation towards the building of Rebecca House. In recognition of their gift, the children's hospice has been named after Henry Bloom Noble’s wife Rebecca who, together with her husband, supported many charities on the Isle of Man.
Rebecca House occupies the right wing of St. Bridget’s Hospice and has four bedrooms, kitchen, milk kitchen, large multifunction room containing a dining room, play area and play equipment.
Rebecca House not only cares for children in the terminal stages of their illness. It shares its special care with families providing long term dedicated care at home for their child. Families need a break from caring, perhaps a holiday, or an opportunity to visit other families. These children have the opportunity to stay at Rebecca House for short periods where, during their ‘journey,’ they will have formed friendships and where parents are comfortable in the knowledge their child will continue to receive the professional care that is necessary to meet their needs in a happy and loving atmosphere.
An assisted bathroom houses a Jacuzzi bath, plus all bedrooms have an en-suite toilet and shower room. All bedrooms and bathroom have electric ceiling hoists making life more comfortable for children who need lifting in and out of their wheelchairs or beds.
The children’s unit has a sensory room where comfort, sounds, soft lighting and special stimulating or relaxing equipment will be held so that children may experience new and enjoyable sensations.
The garden adjacent to Rebecca House will have a play area with a wheelchair swing, pergola, and a number of exciting play structures. You might like to see Oskar's Dreams website. Oskar's Dreams charity has raised over 180,000 to finance many parts Rebecca House.
Day Therapy Unit
To provide a break for both patient and carer, a Day Therapy Unit was established providing the opportunity for patients to spend a day away from their home to socialize with other cancer patients, benefit from relaxation therapies, hairdressing, manicures and to become involved in creative work such as art therapy or other activity.
Patients are normally collected by a volunteer driver and on arrival receive a warm welcome from staff and volunteers together with that important morning coffee. Lunch follows later and the afternoon concludes with a drive back to the family home. During this time, patients will have access to specialist palliative care nurses and doctors and many are able to take advantage of the Complementary Therapy Services.
As the Day Unit has continued to develop it has played an important role in helping people at a much earlier stage of their illness, providing newly diagnosed cancer patients with therapy programmes tailored to their specific need. On Thursdays, the Unit hosts Young People's Day for those aged up to 60.
The total number of Day Unit sessions in 2005 was 988
Hospice at Home
Hospice at Home nurse
The Hospice at Home service for Adults and Children supported by the Diana Princess of Wales Care at Home Trust in the Isle of Man allows patients to remain in the comfort of their own home through the provision of specialist care delivered by a team of hospice-trained nurses. The service also provides a vital role for the family by enabling patients' carers and/or family members to have valuable time for their own needs.
Children are included in this special care with the service supporting those with life limiting conditions and their families, both emotionally and practically through respite care in their own homes. Patients are referred to this service through referral from the G.P.; Hospital Consultant; Hospital Palliative Care Specialist Nurses; Hospice Clinical Nurse Specialists and other health or social care professionals. Children may also be referred by the Paediatric Consultant, Social Worker, or Paediatric Community Nurse.
Hospice at Home nursing hours during 2005 amounted to Adults 3,237 Children 2,254
Lymphoedema Clinic
Hospice Care is the sole provider in the Island of a Lymphoedema clinic which, in layman's terms, offers specialist therapy to help reduce swelling of limbs for patients who have had treatment for cancer surgery.
The total number of patient Lymphoedema treatment sessions in 2005 amounted to 1,363
Aromatherapy
A team of qualified Aromatherapists have been providing a service with a holistic approach to patients and relatives, carers and some bereaved relatives for many years. A broad range of therapies including aromatherapy, reflexology and acupressure treatments are given where appropriate and greatly valued by those in need.
The team provided around 2,200 treatments during 2005
A holistic approach
Psychosocial care is an integral part of Hospice Care, with the services of a social worker and a bereavement counsellor provided. The Hospice also has it's own chapel and a chaplaincy team to care for the spiritual needs of Hospice patients and their relatives daily.
HRH Princess Anne opened our new Hospice
HRH Princess Anne
Monday 7th July 2008, was a Great Day for Hospice; we were honoured that Her Royal Highness, The Princess Anne, opened our New Hospice, Strang, Isle of Man.
There are now four pages of photographs, covering arrival to meeting the Governors, Special Guests, Staff, Patients and Volunteers, and unveiling the Commemorative plaque, all recording this very special day.
The New Hospice
The first patients moved in during November 2007. If you would like to see three artist's impression of the New Hospice there is a page here for you to see the buildings and their setting, in some detail.