What services does St Michael’s Hospice provide?

St Michael’s Hospice aims to provide a programme of care to suit the individual needs and requirements of each patient.  The In-Patient Unit consists of 12 specialist acute beds, offering short term care (usually for a two week period), and 14 beds, offering longer term palliative and end-of-life care, as well as some respite care beds.  Patients can access a range of additional services including: physiotherapy, complementary therapy and lymphoedema treatment, social work and visits from our Chaplaincy team.

If you would prefer to receive clinical services within the comfort and familiarity of your own home, our Hospice at Home service provides practical hands-on-nursing care and access to telephone advice 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  Alternatively, the qualified and experienced staff in the Day Therapy Centre can offer you time away from home, spending the day in group activities, visiting local attractions and, most of all, meeting new people.

What does the term ‘palliative care’ mean?

‘Palliative care’ means that we look after the symptoms of an illness, rather than try to find a cure.  Such care is introduced when the patient’s disease is no longer responsive to curative treatment and life expectancy is relatively short.  St Michael’s Hospice takes a very person-centred approach to palliative care, not only addressing the patient’s physical needs, but also their emotional, social and spiritual needs.

What does the term ‘respite care’ mean?

‘Respite care’ is typically used to refer to a period of one to two weeks, when the patient will be admitted to one of our In-Patient wards to enable their carer at home to have a break. As part of our flexible range of services, we also offer respite care within Day Therapy and St Augustine's.

What can a patient expect from St Michael’s Hospice?

St Michael’s Hospice aims to create an open and honest atmosphere; every patient is treated as a unique and valued individual, whose culture and diverse perspective we respect.  We encourage patients to ask any questions, and in return we always provide honest answers.  We are driven and led by the people for whom we care.

We also aim to create a relaxed and relaxing atmosphere.  Our In-Patient rooms have been newly refurbished and redecorated, with clinical equipment and facilities being covertly placed to be as unobtrusive as possible.  Our beautifully tended gardens form an integral part of the Hospice, with areas for quiet reflection and a Summer House on the top lawn.  Our Day Therapy Centre, recently likened to being in a tree house, overlooks these gardens and is filled with an abundance of natural light. 

Is there a difference between St Michael’s Hospice and St Augustine’s Nursing Unit?

St Michael’s Hospice Company is proud of its long tradition of care, which it has inherited through the work of St Augustine’s Nursing Unit.  The services offered by the Nursing Unit, currently based at nearby Moreton, offer nursing home, respite and continuing health care.  All the clinical staff form part of the total Hospice nursing team and are experienced and trained to the same high standards.  The range of services offered by both St Michael’s and St Augustine’s enables the Hospice Company to offer flexible and individualised care.