home | site map | contact us

Day Care

This page gives an overview of the services offered in Day Therapy at the Hospice of the Good Shepherd. We want you to be involved and consulted about all aspects of your care and be given relevant, timely and appropriate information. Our aim is to provide a high level of care, which includes physical, emotional, spiritual, social and psychological support.

This page aims to answer some of your questions and details the care you will receive.

Who can attend Day Therapy?

One of your multi-professional team may suggest that you would benefit from attending a course of Day Therapy. Some examples of benefits available are listed below but our main aim is to provide individualised care for each person. Your objectives for what you hope to gain from attending are discussed at the initial assessment with your nurse and reviewed regularly.

How long would I need to come for?

A course of up to 12 weeks Day Therapy is offered and reviewed on a regular basis to ensure it is still fulfilling your needs. Attendance may be for a full session (5 hours) or part of a session, for example part of the morning or afternoon.

What benefits are there in attending the Day Therapy Unit?

An opportunity to share how you feel about all aspects of your illness, treatment and care.

Symptoms, for example pain, nausea or vomiting, loss of appetite, anaemia can be regularly reviewed. Good symptom control may prevent admission to the hospital or hospice. The Hospice medical and nursing team specialises in the specific needs of our patients and a high level of expertise has been gained which will be available to you to meet your needs.

Promotion of independence and assistance to manage better at home with introduction to the Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapist. They can provide equipment and advice to assist you at home.

Assistance to gain confidence with coping at home for you and your family by assessment of your personal needs. There will be an opportunity to meet the Social Support Team who could arrange assistance at home if required. If you wish they can check you are receiving all the benefits to which you are entitled. If not they can assist you in claiming any outstanding benefits.

If your GP or the Hospice Doctor decide you need a transfusion for anaemia or infusion to prevent bone pain, these could be given during your visit from home which would prevent you needing admission.

An opportunity to discuss issues with a member of the Spiritual Care Team for individual support or group reflection is available. Should you feel this was not appropriate your wishes would be respected. The Hospice is for people of all faiths and none.

Improved quality of life with the support from the multi-professional hospice team providing care to meet your specific needs.

Who are the multi-professional team?
You may see or be referred to:-

What activities does the Day Therapy provide?
You may wish to join in with some of these:-

Creative Therapies: Recreational activity:

What Complementary Therapies does the Day Therapy provide?
You may wish to try some of the following:-

What are the routines at Day Therapy?

Although everyone has different needs, we do have a general routine. People usually arrive around 10.15am and will be offered tea or coffee. Lunch is served at midday and at approximately 2.30pm we have afternoon tea/coffee and cake. People leave for home at 3pm. The above times refer to a ‘full session’ visit but in order to provide a more flexible service it is possible to visit for an AM or PM session instead.

How do I get there?

If you or your family can provide transport, this would be helpful.

If you do not have access to transport, we could arrange a volunteer driver who will collect you from and return you home.

Please phone the hospice from 8.30am if you are unable to attend to advise David Brothwood the Volunteer Co-Ordinator so he can cancel your transport. Telephone 01244 851091. He is available from 8.30-12.30. Other than these times please ask reception to put you through to Day Therapy staff to leave a message.

If getting into a car is difficult, ambulance transport can be arranged by the Day Hospice staff.

Are there any charges?

No. There is no charge for any service provided by the hospice.

What do I do if I need medication during the day?

On your first attendance, please bring with you all your tablets and medicines. The Day Therapy staff will wish to check these with you.

You need to bring your own drugs with you if you require them during the day. They remain your property and responsibility.

The Nurses can assist you with your medications from chemist labeled containers.

Can I smoke at the Hospice?

At present, Hospices are exempt from the total ban; however, we still have to comply with the law and certain regulations.

As an organisation we have taken the decision to allow patients and families to continue to smoke if they wish. Smoking for patients and visitors will be allowed in the Elysian Room only. This is the glass building in the court yard. You will be shown this on your first visit to the Hospice.

Please can we ask all patients, visitors and staff not to smoke within the grounds of the Hospice?

Staff will have a very small designated area in the back part of the car park, which is away from open public space.

For those patients who need assistance to smoke, the organisation does not expect nurses to carry this out. The patient can ask the nurse, but they do have the right to refuse to assist the patient if they are at risk of receiving second hand smoke.

What if I have any concerns?

If at any time you and your carer are unhappy about any aspect of your care, please inform the Sister in Day Care who is always available to discuss your concerns. Alternatively the Clinical Services Manager, Audrey Jones, can be contacted on 01244 851091.

What if I am not sure Day Therapy is for me?

You are very welcome to come, by appointment, to look around first and talk to the staff. Your first visit will be an assessment visit where you will have the opportunity to discuss any issues or concerns you have with the qualified Nurse.

Do I still need to see my General Practitioner?

Yes. While attending Day Therapy you will remain under the care of your General Practitioner. The Hospice Doctor may suggest changes in your medicines and inform your General Practitioner, who will continue to provide all your prescriptions.

Should you find you are unwell between visits to Day Therapy, you should contact your General Practitioner. If you have a District Nurse and/or Macmillan Nurse, he or she may also be able to advise you.