Other Hospice Facilites

Dining Room

The Hospice has a subsidised Dining Room, catering for patients and their families and/or carers. Special dietary needs and/or large parties of visitors can be catered for by prior arrangement, but please bear in mind that the needs of patients (and staff) must take priority.

Meal times can be arranged to suit the particular needs of individuals, but the standard opening times are as follows:

• Breakfast: 8.00am to 10.00am
• Lunch: 12.00pm to 2.00pm
• Evening Meal: 4.30pm to 6.00pm

Relatives can also obtain tea and coffee from the Dining Room until 7.00pm.

Social & Spiritual Needs

The Hospice has a multi-faith Prayer Room for use by patients and their families.

We have a team of Chaplains from local churches that visit the Hospice regularly. Patients are also free to ask for their own spiritual advisor at any time.

We have our own Social Worker who is available should you have any concerns regarding benefit entitlements, housing issues, and services available in the community. Please ask the Nursing Staff to arrange a consultation if you require any help or advice.

Bereavement Support Group

At Willow Wood Hospice we have a Bereavement Support Coordinator, Nurses and trained Volunteers who offer support to the bereaved. We offer Bereavement Support on the first Wednesday of every month, from 6.30pm to 8.00pm in the Day Hospice.

We contact by letter relatives of patients who died whilst in the In-Patient Unit the previous month, and also the relatives of those patients who have attended Day Hospice, but who died at home, in hospital or in a Nursing Home.

In addition to sending letters, the Coordinator telephones next of kin on the Tuesday before the meeting, which can prove very beneficial to people who would not feel comfortable in a group, but feel safer talking to someone on the telephone. For some people this is enough - others benefit from group support.

The bereaved may contact the Hospice at any time for advice, information and support.

We do not offer counselling, but we are aware and knowledgeable enough to be able to advise people when they reach a point where our intervention is not enough, and they need to see their GP for referral to a qualified Counsellor.

A number of bereaved people who attend our meetings say that they gain comfort from attending.

We also conduct a risk assessmenton relatives that In-Patient staff are concerned about. The Coordinator oversees these and takes the appropriate action.

Margaret Slingo
Bereavement Coordinator

Carers' Support Group

Willow Wood Hospice recognises the important part carers play in caring for a person who has Palliative Care needs.

The aim of the Group is to provide psychological, emotional and practical support for the carers and loved ones of Willow Wood patients, in accordance with National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) Guidlines. The knowledge that carers are important reduces their feelings of isolation.

What we offer:

• Therapeutic listening - someone to listen, in a relaxed, informal setting
• Social and peer support - an essential element of Group work. Sharing of experiences and ideas within the Group
• Friendship
• Access to information and professional support, e.g.
  - Social Services information
  - practical information - where to get equipment and help
  - financial concerns
  - end-of-life choices
  - preferred place of care
• An opportunity for carers to visit the Hospice and meet the staff before In-Patient admission or bereavement
• Peace of mind - meeting the staff who are looking after their loved ones
• Information and advice from Social Worker as required (e.g. contact numbers)
• Establishing a means of pre-bereavement support and a gentle introduction to the Hospice

Carers are given practical advice and offered as much information as possible to help them cope.

They are given time for themselves, and the opportunity to:

• Have their nails and/or hair done
• Take advantage of the Hospice's aromatherapy, reflexology, yoga and relaxation facilities
• Enjoy some artwork, or just a cup of tea and a chat!

Julia Boswell
Day Hospice Sister

24-Hour Palliative Care Advice Line

The need for an out of hours Palliative Care advice service was identified in the NICE Guidelines and the NHS Cancer Plan, due to the number of calls received by the Hospice requesting advice.

The 24-Hour Palliative Care Advice Line became operational on 20th February 2006. This followed several months of planning, and a training programme for the advisors. Two launches took place - at Willow Wood Hospice and Tameside Hospital - to make professionals aware of the new venture.

The Advice Line is currenty available 24 hours a day to provide clinical advice on Palliative Care issues to healthcare professionals working in Tameside & Glossop. Advice has been sought on symptom control and use of medication, and information provided on local resources.

It is planned to audit the use of the Advice Line after 6 months - from this further developments may be planned. The response and feedback so far has been positive, and we hope to be able to build on this.

The telephone number of the Advice Line is 0161 330 5080