St Michael’s Hospice celebrate 35 years of helping people in Herefordshire
23 July 2019
In celebration of its 35th anniversary, the WISH Team visited St Michael’s Hospice earlier this month to find out about the vast range of services available to support those diagnosed with a terminal illness, and their families, across Herefordshire.
St Michael’s has been at the forefront of the hospice care movement, since it opened its Bartestree base in 1984, and has helped play an important role in revolutionising palliative care across the county and beyond.
The hospice provide a range of different services from day and home services to outpatient clinics and bereavement support groups. Here’s an example of some of the services available in Herefordshire…
Day services can help make life easier and more comfortable for people with a terminal illness. The hospice’s multi-skilled and highly trained doctors, nurses, therapists and care teams offer a range of different treatments to support patients, recognising that everyone’s illness is unique.
Regular outpatient clinics and support groups provide people with helpful advice and the confidence to live well with their illness. They’re also an opportunity to discuss health, wellbeing and medication matters and to be referred to other hospice services.
A home service is available for those who wish to remain in their own home, as opposed to going into the hospice. Towards the final stages of illness, skilled nurses and healthcare assistants will provide hands-on nursing care within the patient’s own home, whilst also advising them of other available hospice and community services.
Hospice care is provided within St Michael’s first-class facilities from their specialist team, who ensure all patients are treated with dignity and compassion and have the best possible care at all times. This is all within a relaxed and peaceful environment, where patients have large en suite private bedrooms, surrounded by communal spaces overlooking open countryside. Family and friends are welcome to visit at any time and can even stay overnight.
Activities, events and one to one sessions can also be arranged to support patients and their families, along with complementary therapy treatments, such as massage, reflexology and acupuncture.
A series of bereavement support groups take place across Herefordshire, which offer practical and emotional support to those who have lost a loved one, even if they weren’t cared for by St Michael’s. The free drop-in sessions are held regularly in Bromyard, Hereford, Kington and Leominster.
St Michael’s has been at the forefront of the hospice care movement, since it opened its Bartestree base in 1984, and has helped play an important role in revolutionising palliative care across the county and beyond.
The hospice provide a range of different services from day and home services to outpatient clinics and bereavement support groups. Here’s an example of some of the services available in Herefordshire…
Day services can help make life easier and more comfortable for people with a terminal illness. The hospice’s multi-skilled and highly trained doctors, nurses, therapists and care teams offer a range of different treatments to support patients, recognising that everyone’s illness is unique.
Regular outpatient clinics and support groups provide people with helpful advice and the confidence to live well with their illness. They’re also an opportunity to discuss health, wellbeing and medication matters and to be referred to other hospice services.
A home service is available for those who wish to remain in their own home, as opposed to going into the hospice. Towards the final stages of illness, skilled nurses and healthcare assistants will provide hands-on nursing care within the patient’s own home, whilst also advising them of other available hospice and community services.
Hospice care is provided within St Michael’s first-class facilities from their specialist team, who ensure all patients are treated with dignity and compassion and have the best possible care at all times. This is all within a relaxed and peaceful environment, where patients have large en suite private bedrooms, surrounded by communal spaces overlooking open countryside. Family and friends are welcome to visit at any time and can even stay overnight.
Activities, events and one to one sessions can also be arranged to support patients and their families, along with complementary therapy treatments, such as massage, reflexology and acupuncture.
A series of bereavement support groups take place across Herefordshire, which offer practical and emotional support to those who have lost a loved one, even if they weren’t cared for by St Michael’s. The free drop-in sessions are held regularly in Bromyard, Hereford, Kington and Leominster.
It’s not just what’s available within the hospice, because if you step outside into St Michael’s gardens, you’ll find a truly peaceful retreat, offering views over some of Herefordshire’s most spectacular countryside. The gardens are looked after by a team of amazing volunteers, who ensure they’re kept colourful, attractive and a serene place to spend time.
Last, but not least, there’s also the Mobile Hospice Support Vehicle, which regularly visits all four corners of Herefordshire and beyond, helping to spread the word about the vast range of services offered by St Michael’s. If you’re planning a community fete or event, which you think might be enhanced by having the vehicle in attendance, don’t hesitate to contact Michelle Havard for more information at mhavard@smhospicehereford.org or 01432 852621.
To find out more about the different services provided by St Michael’s, including outstanding conferencing facilities available to hire in the Education Centre, visit www.st-michaels-hospice.org.uk.
Last, but not least, there’s also the Mobile Hospice Support Vehicle, which regularly visits all four corners of Herefordshire and beyond, helping to spread the word about the vast range of services offered by St Michael’s. If you’re planning a community fete or event, which you think might be enhanced by having the vehicle in attendance, don’t hesitate to contact Michelle Havard for more information at mhavard@smhospicehereford.org or 01432 852621.
To find out more about the different services provided by St Michael’s, including outstanding conferencing facilities available to hire in the Education Centre, visit www.st-michaels-hospice.org.uk.
Jo and Verity take the Mobile Hospice Support Vehicle into High Town, Hereford to help spread the word