Dispelling the myths of hospice care

There are many myths surrounding Hospice care, hopefully the following information will help to clarify the role of the Hospice in Bailiwick life:

Myth: Les Bourgs Hospice is funded by Health and Social care.

Fact: Les Bourgs Hospice is a local registered charity which provides a free front-line service for the delivery of complex palliative care to the people in the Bailiwick of Guernsey. We do not receive any funding from Health and Social Care or the States of Guernsey.

Our care is provided at no cost to the users of our services, no matter how long or how often it is needed.

 

Myth: Hospices are places that people just go to die.

Fact: Although there are patients who come into the hospice for end-of-life care, there are a variety of other reasons people come to the hospice, including assessment and treatment of complex symptoms, short term care following hospital discharge and complex respite care.

Last year 25% of our patients returned home after an inpatient stay.

 

Myth: Hospices only treat people with cancer.

Fact: Whilst many of our patients do have cancer, we also provide care for patients with any life-limiting illness such as, respiratory disease, kidney disease, liver disease, heart disease and degenerative neurological conditions. In fact, last year, 20% of the people we cared for had a diagnosis other than cancer.

 

Myth: All patients in Hospices are elderly

Fact: Hospice care is for anyone aged 18 years and over facing a life-limiting illness.  Each year approx. 20% of our patients are under 65 years of age.

We also provide support for those close to our patients, including children.

 

Myth: The Hospice must be a sad place.

Fact: Although people may access hospice care at a difficult time of their lives, it is rare to walk through the Hospice without seeing a smile or hearing laughter. Of course there are sad times, but the Hospice focuses on living every moment.

Les Bourgs Hospice is warm, friendly and welcoming, enabling families to spend quality time together.

 

Myth – Hospice is another name for a care home.

Fact  -  Hospices are not care homes. We work with Specialist Doctors and our Nurses have specialist skills in palliative care, who along with GP’s and our Health Care Assistants  provide expert healthcare, supporting our patients physical, emotional, spiritual and social care needs.   

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