What is the catchment area for St Michael’s Hospice?

Our catchment area is Hasting and Rother, stretching from Cooden / Little Common to Camber and up to Ticehurst on the Kent border.  Any person living in this area, even if their GP is based outside (e.g. in Kent), is eligible to be referred.

Can patients be referred to the Hospice from outside the area?

Occasionally patients are referred to the Hospice from outside the catchment area.  In accordance with our aim to promote flexibility and greater personal care, we review each case individually.  If the patient has requested to be cared for in St Michael’s Hospice to be close to their only relatives or friends, then this request will be considered sympathetically.

How can a patient be referred to St Michael’s?

For our In-Patient services, referrals can be made by the patient’s GP, District Nurse, Macmillan Nurse, Hospital Consultant or other Hospice services. We do not take referrals directly from patients or their families but please feel free to contact us and talk to the Clinical Lead Nurse about how to access our Hospice services. The telephone number is 01424 445 177.

For Day Therapy, while it is possible to be referred by health professionals, self-referral is also an option.  If you would like to discuss how a regular visit to Day Therapy could help you, or a family member, please call the team for a chat on the same number as above (01424 445 177).  When attending Day Therapy you will remain under the care of your own GP, but St Michael's Hospice may be able to offer additional services in the form of Hospice at Home or respite care.

For the Hospice at Home service, referrals frequently come through the patient’s GP, District Nurse, Hospital Consultants or Macmillan Nurse.  Yet, self-referral is also possible.  The telephone number for the team is 01424 433 933.

Is it true that people only go to St Michael’s when they are about to die?

While St Michael’s Hospice is aimed at helping those who are living with a life-limiting illness, we offer a range of active treatments with the expectation that patients will return home to continue with their lives.  The normal length of stay in the acute Unit, for example, is two weeks, though this depends on the patient’s individual needs. 

Is St Michael’s Hospice primarily for patients suffering with cancer?

Many of our patients are people living with cancer but we also welcome patients suffering from other life-limiting illnesses, such as AIDS, heart disease, respiratory difficulties and Motor Neurone disease.

Is St Michael’s Hospice an establishment of a particular religious faith?

We recognise that spiritual support in all its diversity is an important part of holistic care; our aim at St Michael’s Hospice is that patients and their families should feel welcome, whether or not they have a faith of any sort.  We welcome and offer care to people from diverse backgrounds and faiths.  Our chaplain and volunteer team have many links to a wide variety of religious denominations and will ensure relevant support is provided.  Our chaplain also organises non-religious events within the Hospice, including pastoral care in the Chapel, remembrance events and listening to and discussing spiritual questions with patients on the ward.  Any member of the clinical team would be happy to arrange for the chaplain to visit.

What should a patient bring when entering the Hospice?

The patient should bring all current medication when entering the Hospice.  We would like you to feel as comfortable as possible whilst staying with us so we also encourage you to bring any personal items that you would like to put on your bedside locker, such as photographs, books etc.  Any extra reading matter can be easily found in our bedside library service; newspapers can be ordered via the Ward Clerk.  A trolley service visits the ward regularly for additional toiletries, stationary, sweets and small gifts.