Frequently
Asked Questions
1. What is meant by palliative
care?
Palliative Care is the care of patients with a life threatening
illness. It aims to control pain, alleviate symptoms and
enable the patient to have the best possible quality of
life.
2.
What is different about the hospice approach?
We are able to offer a high quality of care to patients,
their families and carers. We have the time to give attention
to individual needs and the expertise to offer specialist
services.
We
help patients and their families to make the most of living
in the time that is left.
We
bring an open, honest and sensitive approach to death
and dying.
We
work as part of a team with GP's, District Nurses and
hospital staff and educate others to give high standards
of care throughout the health service.
We
offer emotional and spiritual support to families and
carers before and after bereavement.
3. How much does Dorothy House
charge for its services?
All our services are provided free of charge.
4. What types of illness does
Dorothy House provide care for?
We provide care for patients with any condition which
is life threatening. Over 90% of our patients have cancer,
but we also help patients with motor neurone disease and
other neurological conditions, heart and lung disease
and AIDS.
5.
Does Dorothy House only help people who are dying?
We can provide care and advice from diagnosis to the final
stages of a life threatening illness.
6. Are there doctors at Dorothy
House?
We have three consultant physicians, who work in the
hospice, with community hospitals and nursing homes. They
work closely with the primary health care team and may
conduct home visits where appropriate.
7.
How can I get referred to Dorothy House?
Patients can be referred to Dorothy House either by
their GP, Community/District Nurse or by hospital staff.
It is important that whoever makes the referral has the
GP's agreement.
8.
How long will I be able to stay in the Dorothy House In-Patient
Unit?
Each patient's needs are assessed on an individual
basis, the average length of stay is 7 days and the majority
of patients return home to continue living as normal a
life as possible
9. Are you able to do home visits
at short notice?
When reqested by the GP or District Nurse the Dorothy
House Nurse Specialist can visit during normal working
hours.
10.
Where can I get advice and support at any time about pain
relief, symptoms or anything else to do with my illness?
The
Dorothy House 24-hour Helpline offers advice from nursing
and medical staff and support to patients, families and
carers 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The number to
ring is 01225 722999.
11.
How can Dorothy House help patients who are being cared
for at home?
For many of our patients it is really important to
them to stay At Home
wherever possible, so the majority of our services are
carried out in the community, supporting patients, their
carers and families.
12.
What help can Dorothy House offer to families, friends
and carers?
Coping with a life threatening illness can be a deeply
stressful experience for the whole family. We offer Emotional
and Spiritual Support to patients, their families
and carers, both during the illness and following bereavement.
A proportion of beds in the In-patient
Unit are reserved for respite care. Day Care is also
an opportunity for carers to take a much-needed break.
Our Bereavement Service offers
ongoing bereavement support where needed.
13.
How can I get referred to Day Care?
Referral to Day Care
is usually via the Dorothy House Nurse Specialists or
the patient's GP. A member of our Day Care staff will
then carry out a home visit to explain what is involved
and carry out a more detailed assessment.
14.
What is the difference between a Marie Curie Nurse and
a Macmillan Nurse?
Marie Curie nurses are nurses who provide practical
nursing care at night to patients with cancer, generally
in the later stages of illness, to enable them to stay
at home where possible.
Macmillan
Nurses (or Nurse Specialists)
are Registered Nurses with specialist training and knowledge
of palliative care. They offer specialist advice and support
to patients and their families and are able to help with
adjustment to the changes which illness can bring.
15.
What is the difference between a Nurse Specialist and
a Macmillan Nurse?
Dorothy House Nurse Specialists
were previously known as Macmillan Nurses and have an
identical role. The name was changed for practical and
financial reasons, as many donations intended for Dorothy
House were made out to Macmillan Cancer Care, which does
not fund this service in the area we serve.
16.
What support is available for patients with cancer?
Support and Advice
is available from a number of local and national groups
and organisations. These range from small local self-help
groups to helplines of national organisations
17.
What financial help is available to people with life threatening
illness?
There are a number of Welfare Benefits
to which people with a life threatening illness may be
entitled. These include Attendance Allowance (for people
over the age of 65), Disability Living Allowance (for
younger people) and others.
18.
Can you advise me on what I should tell my children?
The Dorothy House Nurse Specialists and the Social
Worker can give advice on how best to support children.
The particular needs of children are summarised in the
following ten points:
