Care and the Hospice FAQs

Why does Harris HospisCare need to raise money?

It costs £1.5 million to deliver our specialist services each year but less than half of this comes from the NHS. This means we rely on the support of our local community through voluntary donations, fundraising events, local businesses, grants, legacies and through our shops to continue to provide our services, free of charge, to the people and families who rely on us.

What care does Harris HospisCare give?

We look after people with cancer and other serious illnesses, such as heart failure, dementia, Motor Neurone Disease and Parkinson’s disease. As well as home care we also run a thriving day care service, a comprehensive lymphoedema service and our care for families extends into bereavement.

What geographic area does Harris HospisCare cover?

We serve the London Borough of Bromley.

How many patients are cared for by Harris HospisCare?

Last year 404 new patients were referred to the home care service. The home care services operate a 24 hour visiting service, 7 days a week. On any one day the hospice cares for around 200 people in their own home. There are around 1,110 attendances at the Caritas Centre per year.  Our lymphoedema team welcomed 139 new patients and we reviewed 935 patients in clinics at Caritas House.

How old are your patients?

Harris HospisCare is an adult hospice and we look after patients from 18 years upwards.

What is hospice/palliative care?

Hospice or palliative care is a special type of care for people whose illness may no longer be curable. It enables them to achieve the best possible quality of life during the final stages of their illness.

Hospice care also embraces families and friends by supporting them through the illness into bereavement.

How is a patient referred to Harris HospisCare?

Referral to Harris HospisCare can be by a patient’s GP, hospital or district nurse.

How does the home care service work?

The clinical nurse specialists visit patients in their own homes and work in close collaboration with the patient’s GP and other community services. Those who are well enough can take advantage of the facilities in the Caritas Centre. A team of nurses act as ‘key workers’ for patients and together with the multi-disciplinary team they agree a plan of care which includes participation in the planned group work programme (creative therapies etc.) as well as attendance at individual therapy sessions.

How long do patients remain under home care?

About 19 weeks. (The national average length of home care in the UK is 14 weeks).

Will Harris HospisCare understand the patient’s spiritual beliefs?

Harris HospisCare welcomes everyone whatever their beliefs, race, religion or lifestyle. Help is also available from representatives of most faiths. All of our professional staff at Harris HospisCare are able to engage in meaningful conversations with patients and carers, and realise that end of life care will raise some important questions for many.

Is all care given to patients at the hospice?

Harris HospisCare services are delivered in a range of settings including the patients’ own home and the Caritas Centre.

What is the Caritas Centre?

The day centre was refurbished and renamed the Caritas Centre in October 2010 as a result of raising £95,000 from the Department of Health. The aim was to refurbish the ground floor of the building and change the way that day care, outpatients and community services are delivered. It is open 5 days a week between 9am and 5pm providing all or some of the following at any one time:

• A social space for patients, families and carers, incorporating an information area, internet access, a health-style café and a place to relax.
• A place for day care patients, open 3 days a week and staffed by a small nursing team.
• Access to clinic rooms offering, by appointment, medical and nurse led clinics, as well as appointments with a physiotherapist, social worker, welfare officer, complementary therapist, music and art therapies etc.
• A group work programme
• A bathing suite
• A hairdressing salon

What other services does Harris HospisCare offer?

In addition to expert nursing and medical care, patients and families are supported by members of our co-ordinated multi-professional teams including social works, chaplains, welfare advisors, psychiatrists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, complementary therapists, bereavement service volunteers and others. These services are available at Harris HospisCare or in the patients’ own homes. A range of services are also available in Care Homes and other community venues.

What is Lymphoedema and how does your team help?

Lymphoedema is characterised by swelling of the limbs or part of the body and causes acute discomfort and can lead to patients suffering psychological problems and depression. We help patients manage their condition through treatments in one-to-one appointments and in support groups which help the patient feel less alone; they share their experiences and learn tips and ideas about how to cope from each other.

What if a patient needs a bed in a hospice?

Harris HospisCare offers a home care service and there are no inpatient beds on site. St Christopher’s Hospice in Sydenham can admit Harris patients for symptom control (where appropriate, St Christopher’s is able to offer the following procedures: blood transfusion; ascitic tap; neural blockade; physiotherapy; artificial hydration if appropriate; intravenous treatment of hypercalcaemia; epidurals and intrathecals) for psychological or spiritual support and for terminal care.

Short admissions will be considered for patients who require rehabilitation and there is limited provision for respite care to give carers a break.

How does the link with St Christopher’s Hospice work?

Harris HospisCare and St Christopher’s Hospice merged in September 2008. The Trustee Board, Chief Executive and Senior Management Team oversee all the clinical and non-clinical operations within the hospices. Although merged each hospice operates as a separate company financially, meaning that any donations made to Harris HospisCare will be used to care for the patients of Harris HospisCare.

When was the hospice founded and how did it get its name?

Harris HospisCare was officially founded in 1984 to serve the southern part of Bromley. The original service was known as South Bromley HospisCare and in 2002 renamed as Harris HospisCare in recognition of the dedicated support of Lord Harris of Peckham. In 2008 the service merged with St Christopher’s Hospice as a development of the longstanding professional relationship between the two organisations, sharing the same values, standards and commitment to high quality end of life care.

Do patients have to pay?

All of our services to patients and their families are free of charge. Harris HospisCare is a registered charity and receives about 40% of our funding from the NHS. We are dependent on voluntary funding to maintain our vital services.