Our first November charity article is for St Helena Hospice:
St Helena Hospice is open 24 hours a day 365 days a year and provides specialist palliative care to those in need throughout our region.
St Helena Hospice is here:
- to meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of people with a life limiting-illness, no matter what their diagnosis
- to support families, including children, before and after bereavement
- to serve the adult population of North East Essex and parts of Mid Essex
- to support people from every background and faith who need our services
- to work closely with other agencies and individuals involved in the care and support of patients and families, such as GPs, District Nurses and hospital teams.
Hospices believe that good care and support can make all the difference to the quality of life of people with a life-limiting illness. We may be able to help at any stage of the illness and many of our patients dip in and out of our services as they feel they need us.
Who is the Hospice for?
It is for anyone who has been diagnosed with a life-limiting illness and all services are free to patients and their families.
St Helena Hospice is available to anyone aged 18+ who needs specialist palliative services for care and support.
We also support children and families pre- and post bereavement.
What services are available?
We provide physical, emotional, social and spiritual support and advice through our team of specialists. These include nurses, social workers, counsellors, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, complementary therapists, art and music therapists, bereavement visitors, doctors and specialist palliative care nurses.
The Hospice team can support you in your home, through our two day centres at Colchester and Clacton or through a stay in our inpatient unit in Colchester. Our team will work with you, your family and other carers to ensure you have the best quality of life possible.
We have hospice at home services operating within the Colchester and Tendring areas which can support a patient up to 24 hours a day at the end of life by providing care in the home, enabling people to have more choice over where they die.
How do I get referred to the Hospice?
Most of our referrals come through the GPs, district nurses or the hospital, however, patients can refer themselves through phoning, writing or emailing St Helena Hospice. Family, friends or relatives can also make a referral with the permission of the patient. All referrals are considered daily and, if appropriate, an assessment will be offered.
When should I make contact?
The earlier the better after a diagnosis. So many patients and families say to us “If only I’d known about this sooner!” Traditionally, hospices have been thought of as a ‘place to die’, but our focus is on helping people live as active and as normal a life as possible. We have a patient information pack which is written by our User Group or you might like to visit our website at www.sthelenahospice.org.uk to explore what we can offer.
How is the Hospice funded?
All our services are free to patients and their families. As a registered charity, we have to rely on the generosity of our community to provide financial support for the work to continue.
Funding comes from a range of sources including; legacies, funds raised by Hospice shops, events, the St Helena Hospice Lottery, donations from individuals as well as local businesses and support provided by grant making bodies. The Hospice is not part of the NHS but does receive a grant from the local primary care trust (PCT), which contributes towards some of the services provided to the community.
Additional Information
To learn more about the work of St Helena Hospice including opportunities to volunteer or donate to support their work, please visit the website at www.sthelenahospice.org.uk or telephone 01206 791740.
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