Our Services

The Hospice In – Specialist Patient Unit, at Nettleham Road, Lincoln, serves the county of Lincolnshire, with eleven beds offering specialist palliative in patient care. The unit underwent extensive refurbishment in the autumn of 2008 and provides help and support on a round the clock basis to patients with complex needs.

St Barnabas Hospice services seek to provide and to support the provision of palliative rehabilitation, symptom management, and end of life care to people suffering from a life-limiting illness, irrespective of the diagnosis or location, and respite for their carers.

It has been long recognised that collaborative working and good communication between the Hospice multi professional team, the wider health care community and social care teams are key in ensuring that patients requiring specialist palliative care have the supporting services they need at home or within another care setting. St Barnabas supports patients, their carers and relatives to make choices and shared decisions about where they wish to be cared for and about the care they receive.

The Team

St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice In – Patient Unit offers specialist care from a multi professional team of nurses, doctors, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, rehabilitation assistants, chaplains, family support service, complimentary therapists and volunteers to name but a few. Our service is delivered in partnership with other health and social care agencies throughout the health care community.

Admission to the Hospice can be for a variety of reasons and the unit cares for people aged 18 and over who are suffering from a life limiting illness such as cancer, heart and lung disease and neurological illness, providing a home from home atmosphere. Our support extends to the persons family and carers.

The Hospice Unit

As mentioned previously, the hospice building recently underwent a major refurbishment. The hospice has 11 beds consisting of two 4 bedded bays and three single rooms. The bays a single sex accommodation and have large French doors that overlook the garden.

There are two sitting rooms and a large conservatory where patients and their relatives can go and a beautiful garden with easy access.

We have accommodation for family and carers who may sleep at the hospice in the event of their relatives condition deteriorating. There is a relative's room equipped for sleeping and we have recliner chairs should the relative wish to remain at the patient's bedside.

The unit is not a long stay unit and the usual length of stay for most patients is around 2 – 3 weeks dependant on the reason for admission and the ongoing need for specialist palliative care.

Medical Staff

The medical team is based at the Inpatient Unit, but works with all the clinical teams throughout the trust to ensure the delivery of high-quality palliative care.

As well as managing the patients in the 11-bedded Inpatient Unit, the team sees patients in hospital, their preferred place of care or as outpatients. Through the various multidisciplinary teams, patients’ medicines and medical management can be reviewed regularly. Links with the NHS are strong and well-established, ensuring continuity of care and support for patients, their families and carers.

Support for education is another important aspect of the team’s work. The hospice receives medical and nursing undergraduates and postgraduates from the Universities of Lincoln, Nottingham and Leicester, either as part of their curriculum or by personal arrangement as well as carer professionals working locallySupport for education is another important aspect of the team’s work. Support for education is another important aspect of the team’s work.

The recent appointment of a Consultant in Palliative Medicine is a major step forward for the organisation, and formal involvement in the rotational schemes for specialty medical training will be our next step.

Palliative Care Co-ordination Centre

The Lincolnshire Palliative Care Co-ordination Centre (PCCC) is an administrative centre which matches care needs with care providers for patients who have palliative care requirements. Care is provided for days and/or nights.

Referrals are taken by telephone and fax from community case managers, community nursing staff, hospital discharge liaison nurses, hospice discharge nurses and clinical nurse specialists for patients who:

Have a palliative care diagnosis

Are aged 18 or older

Are registered with a Lincolnshire GP

There are two experienced clinicians working with the PCCC administrators and they can be contacted via the PCCC. Calls initially are answered by administrators. Clinical staff are available for clarification and discussion as well as for support and signposting.

Health Professionals please contact: 0845 055 0708

Our hospice at home service aims to do exactly that - bring hospice care into the home environment, putting the patient and those dear to them at the centre of care. Our team of nurses, therapists and volunteers offer the support that can make this possible.

Through on-going home visits, our specialist nurses complete a thorough assessment of you, and your family’s needs. This allows them to offer the kind of support and assistance to help make daily life a little easier for you at home.

From requesting equipment to adapt your home into a suitable caring environment, to advising on the management of symptoms, or offering the support of other hospice services such as day care, physiotherapy, or complementary therapies, our specialist team can suggest what is appropriate for you. Our Hospice at Home Service has expanded right across the county and operates seven days a week with longer operating hours.

Night Service

This service is an extension to our Hospice at Home. A typical night starts at 10pm with our support worker staying throughout the night, allowing the relatives or carers the chance of a good night. A night visit finishes at 6am although these times are negotiable.

Day Care provides palliative rehabilitation by helping with the management and monitoring of symptoms and providing psychological and emotional support at all stages of a patient’s journey. The focus of care is on maximising quality of life, while offering our visitors access to the many professional services at the hospice

Referrals will be taken from health professional’s patients or their families for anybody with a life limiting illness. Where appropriate a Day Care placement initially of three months will be offered. This may be extended dependent on individual patients need.

The day care team includes nurses, support workers, physiotherapists, complementary therapists, volunteer’s chaplains and housekeeping.

Day Therapies

Information coming soon

Welfare

It can be hard knowing which way to turn at a time when you may be finding it difficult to focus on practical matters. Our team of welfare advisors can work with you on the practicalities surrounding you and your families changing situation. Our in-depth knowledge of the systems in place within local authorities and other charities allows us to offer guidance and support as you confront issues or challenges that arise.

The ways in which we help include:

• Helping you understand your rights and navigate the often complex benefits system:

• Help you to fill out applications and write letters in support of applications you make.

If you have any worries or concerns about your present situation, or the future for your family, please talk to us. We will try our best to help you and ease the pressure.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy is available for people with life-limiting conditions, providing assessment and treatment that is positive and realistic. Working as part of the multi-disciplinary team, the physiotherapist adopts a patient-centred, problem solving approach to help the patient reach their potential and adapt to their changing condition.

They will also work alongside family and carers to provide support and advice. The physiotherapy team also provides a Lincoln based specialist lymphoedema service for treating lymphoedema which may develop secondary to cancer.

Occupational Therapy

The aim of the occupational therapy service is to promote a patient’s independence in both personal and domestic tasks of daily living.

Within the multidisciplinary team at St Barnabas occupational therapy is valued as a key component. They work closely within the inpatient unit, community and day care teams in a specific area of Lincolnshire.

The occupational therapist may be involved in the provision of equipment and adaptations to the home moving and handling assessment, liaise with community agencies and give emotional support to patients and carers.

Rehab Assistants work closely alongside the occupational and physio therapists to offer ongoing patient support

Complementary Therapies

The complementary therapists give their time on a voluntary basis, therefore we are unable to guarantee the treatment will always be available. We offer Indian Head Massage, Reiki, Aromatherapy and Reflexology. Treatments on offer are dependant on the qualification/s held by the individual therapists, and can be viewed locally.

The complementary therapies provided are generally found to be beneficial both emotionally and physically, however, they are not an alternative to conventional treatments such as surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy.

A thorough assessment is made to ensure that there are no contra-indications to treatment and full informed consent is obtained prior to treatment commencing. GPs are informed that complementary therapy is offered to patients.

Bereavement Support Groups

Most of us, at some time in our lives, will be faced with the death of someone we care deeply about. The purpose of these groups is to enable bereaved people to meet with each other in a safe and comfortable place with trained, experienced volunteer help at hand.

Admission to the bereavement support groups is based on an initial assessment. This is carried out to assess whether or not the support group is the best form of support for the bereaved person. Members are invited to attend 12 meetings which are structured around bereavement related discussions. The content is varied to meet the needs of group members.

Bereavement support groups occur weekly at the following locations:

Boston Mondays 1.45 to 3.45 pm

Gainsborough Fridays 1.45 to 3.45 pm

Grantham Wednesdays 1.45 to 3.45pm

Lincoln Mondays 3 to 5.00pm

Lincoln Mondays 7.15 to 9.15pm

Sleaford Wednesdays 10 to 12pm

Spalding Mondays 1.45 to 3.45 pm

Sutton-on-Sea Fridays 1.45 to 3.45 pm

Friendship Groups

The friendship groups follow on from the bereavement support groups. Bereaved people normally join these groups after attending a minimum of six support group meetings or equivalent. Friendship groups occur monthly at Boston, Gainsborough, Grantham, Lincoln, Louth, Sleaford, Spalding and Sutton-on Sea. Friendship groups whilst still addressing the issues of bereavement are more social in nature and involve activities and talks from quest speakers. Members may attend a friendship group for up to two years. However, friendship and support do not have to end there.

St Barnabas Companions

The companions groups, of which there are four, meet regularly for social activities, fundraising and much more. The groups are run by the group members with an elected committee. People who have attended a Friendship group can become life long members of St Barnabas Companions.

Candle days

Candle day celebrations are held twice a year throughout the county. At these short ceremonies bereaved people are invited to light a candle and to join with others in reflecting and sharing remembrance. The candle days are held at hospices throughout the county.

The dates for 2011 and 2012 are as follows:

Candle Days 2011

LINCOLN Thursday 15 September at 2.30 pm

GAINSBOROUGH Friday 16 September at 10.00am

SPALDING Monday 19 Septemeber at 10.00am

BOSTON Monday 19 Septemeber at 2.30pm

SUTTON Friday 23 September at 1.45pm

LOUTH Friday 23 September at 2.30pm

SLEAFORD Monday 26 September at 10am

GRANTHAM Monday 26 at 2pm

Candle days 2012

LINCOLN Thursday 15th May & 13th Sept at 2.30 pm

G/BORO Friday 23rd May & 14th Sept at 10am

SPALDING Monday 19th May & 24th Sept at 10am

BOSTON Monday 19th May & 24th Sept at 2.30pm

SUTTON Friday 30th May & 21st Sept at 1.45pm

LOUTH Friday 30th May & 21st Sept at 2.30pm

SLEAFORD Thursday 28th May & 27th Sept at 10am

GRANTHAM Wednesday 26th May & 28th September

Candle days are open to all bereaved people and there is no need to book in advance.

Patient and Carer One to One Support

One to one support for St Barnabas patients and their carers is usually provided face to face but sometimes by telephone or email. One to one support is provided by trained volunteers under the supervision of the Family Support Services team.

Carers Support Groups

Carers Groups are held at the moment in Lincoln and there are plans to provide this service county wide in the future. These groups provide support for family and friends who are caring for loved ones who have life limiting illnesses. They offer an opportunity for carers to share their experiences and feelings.

Further information

If you would like to attend a bereavement support group or require further information about any of these services please contact:

Family Support Services

St Barnabas Community Education Services

Hawthorn Road

Lincoln

LN2 4QX

Tel: 01522 518225

E-mail: fss@stbarnabashopsice.co.uk

St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice are seeking to develop their already successful range of service’ available within the county. As part of Lincolnshire Carers partnership we wanted to ensure that we continue to build on our relationship with carers.

We have listened to carers who are caring for someone with a life limiting illness and they have told us that ‘isolation’ is one of the most difficult things they experience. The Carer’s Buddy Project is a pilot project based in the Grantham, Sleaford and Stamford area. We need extroardinary people who have themselves cared for someone who have experienced a life limiting illness.

This is a role that would provide the Carer with first hand support of someone who has gone through a similar experience. The ‘Carer Buddy’ will provide time and advice to a carer but most importantly the opportunity to know that they are not alone. We acknowledge that volunteering is a big commitment for anyone and that time is a precious gift. We know from our experiences with volunteers in Lincolnshire we have a strong and committed community who are willing to continually support the work of St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice. We believe that the benefits of providing a ‘Buddy’ who has experienced loss and bereavement will provide the carer with knowledge and support that will enable them to face the future with dignity and strength.

If you believe that you can volunteer for this very special role and feel able to utilise the experience you have gone through, please contact Miranda Fisher Carer Project Officer at St Barnabas Hospice tel 01522 518225 or on mobile number 07880 922229.

Please e-mail: Miranda.fisher@stbarnabashospice.co.uk

St Barnabas Lincolnshire will help you develop your communication skills and train you to feel equipped for the task. However ‘The Carers Buddy project’ is about real support from local people.

“The next step you make could make the difference to someone else’s journey”

Referring to the Palliative Care Co-ordination Centre

The Lincolnshire Palliative Care Co-ordination Centre (PCCC) is an administrative centre which matches care needs with care providers for patients who have palliative care requirements. Care is provided for days and/or nights.

Referrals are taken by telephone and fax from community case managers, community nursing staff, hospital discharge liaison nurses, hospice discharge nurses and clinical nurse specialists for patients who:

Have a palliative care diagnosis

Are aged 18 or older

Are registered with a Lincolnshire GP:

There are two experienced clinicians working with the PCCC administrators and they can be contacted via the PCCC. Calls initially are answered by administrators. Clinical staff are available for clarification and discussion as well as for support and signposting.

There is a SystmONE template which will need to be completed before a referral can be accepted by the PCCC.

A prioritisation tool is used for all referrals. Level three patients will receive dedicated end of life care. This will be provided by St Barnabas Hospice @ Home and Marie Curie staff — Rapid Response and Marie Curie night service — for the most part, with a minimum of agency input. Support also is available from the out of hours service.

Level two patients will receive a mixture of agency and dedicated end of life carers.

Level one patients may receive agency care only. Support is available for managing the impact of level one patients with reference to unmet need and signposting for a carer’s assessment, Care for the Carer contact, and support from charity/volunteers etc.

Level two patients will need to be reassessed once a fortnight, and end of life patients will need to be reviewed daily. Information from the reassessment needs to be fed back to the PCCC so that care packages can be modified in response to patient needs. Patients requiring Marie Curie night care also will need to be reviewed fortnightly. The PCCC will not be able to rebook care if the reassessment has not been completed.