Aren't hospices just for people who have a few weeks to live? Expand Hospices are not just places where people come when they are at the very end of their life. Trinity provides care to people whose illnesses are no longer curable and who would benefit from our support. The majority of the people we support live in their own homes or other locations around the community we serve. Many people using our services have many months or years to live and our approach is to ensure you live life to the full whatever time you have left.
Do I have to pay? How much does it cost? How much does our care cost? Trinity is a charity and all of our care is completely free of charge. Expand Sometimes people ask us how much it costs for care. Trinity is a charity and you do not have to pay for any care or service you receive as a patient at Trinity. All of our care is free for patients and their carers, family members and friends. We receive around 33% of our funding from the NHS every year. We must raise the remaining £13 million through fundraising and our charity shops.
Does Trinity just care for people with cancer? Expand Trinity does not just care for people with cancer. Last year, 45% of the patients we cared for did not have a cancer diagnosis. At Trinity we care for people with all sorts of illnesses, including people with heart, lung, liver or kidney conditions or illnesses such as motor neurone disease.
How do I get admitted to the inpatient unit? Expand Usually a referral will be made for admission either by your community nurse, GP or if you are in hospital, by the hospital palliative care team. The referral is then reviewed by a team of nurses and doctors at Trinity. Often there are a number of people waiting to be admitted and the team will look at each referral on a daily basis when deciding who gets admitted on any one day. We do accept referrals from patients and/or their family or friends. When we receive such referrals we will ask your permission to get information from your GP and/or hospital doctor so that we are sure Trinity is the right place for you to be cared for.
How do I get to Trinity? Expand If you are able, we ask you to make your own way to Trinity. If you require transport, our staff can advise about eligibility for subsidised taxi travel and help you to apply. If you have difficulty accessing public transport, or have poor mobility, we can provide transport in our minibus, subject to availability. Please contact us and we will be happy to help.
How long will I stay at Trinity? Expand People are often worried that an admission to Trinity means they are imminently dying. Sometimes this will be the case, but often it is not, and around half of our patients will be discharged back home or to an alternative place of care. Trinity is not a long-term place of care. Your length of stay will depend on your symptoms and how long it takes for us to have your symptoms better controlled. We will often start talking to you about discharge a number of days before it happens so that we can help ensure it is a safe as possible and we have addressed as many of your needs as we can before you return home. Should you need to stay for a prolonged period of time however, Trinity is here to ensure you get the care you need for as long as necessary.
Who is Trinity’s inpatient care for? Expand There may be circumstances when spending some time as an inpatient at Trinity might benefit you. You might, for example, have difficult symptoms that we can help get under control, enabling you to return home feeling more comfortable. Your illness might be at an advanced stage and you may benefit from rehabilitation to enable you continue to live independently. Trinity is not a permanent alternative to care in your own home or a care home, or nursing home. If while you are with us, your symptoms resolve, but it would be difficult for you to go back to your own home, we will help you, your family, friends and carers to look at and find other places where your care can be continued. You can find out more about this process in our transfer of care information leaflet.
Why have I been referred to Royal Trinity Hospice? Expand If you’ve been referred to Trinity, it generally means it is no longer expected that your illness can be cured. This does not necessarily mean that death is imminent. Trinity’s professionals are experts in the management of pain and other symptoms. People often feel frightened when they hear they or their loved one has been referred to hospice or palliative care, but afterwards may wish it had happened sooner. Being referred to Trinity often leads to better management of symptoms and improved quality of life. It also allows for emotional and psychological support for your family and friends.
Will Trinity take over from my GP or District Nurse? Expand Trinity will not take over your care from your GP or District Nurse. Our role is different to theirs but our work is closely linked. Trinity nurses and doctors work together with other professionals involved in your care and are responsible for co-ordinating the involvement of all the different professionals. If you are receiving care at home, you may find it helpful to read our information guide to services providing palliative care at home. This guide describes the roles of the different professionals to make it easier for you and your family to understand who is involved, what their role is and where to get help and support, should you need it.