Frequently Asked Questions

What is a hospice?

A hospice is a place which supports people who have complex issues in coping with a life limiting or life threatening illness.  Most people have the idea that the main purpose of a hospice is to look after people right at the end of their life - what professionals call “terminal care”.   But a hospice does much more than that.

Helping and treating people with symptoms such as pain, encouraging people to be active and get as much as they can from life, giving time for people to talk about problems that concern them – these are just some of the other things that hospices do.

What kind of hospice is Lewis-Manning?

Lewis-Manning Hospice is not about terminal care.  We do not have beds.  We specialise in helping people adapt to the illness with which they are living.

It’s about living.  It’s also about giving support, advice and practical help to people in a safe, easy going yet highly professional environment.

How does Lewis-Manning fit in with the NHS?

Lewis-Manning is a voluntary hospice and has been supporting local people since 1992.   Some money comes from the NHS, but the majority of our costs are met from fundraising.     We are a nurse-led hospice; there are no doctors on site.  We are registered with and regulated by the Healthcare Commission.  We work closely with each patient’s GP and all the other doctors, nurses and professionals involved in his or her care.   Specialist medical consultants oversee our work.

What services does Lewis-Manning Hospice provide?

We offer three main services:

• Day hospice
• Lymphoedema clinic.  A clinic for patients who have a swelling of fluid in a limb or limbs which has been caused by cancer or its treatment.
• Breathlessness clinic.  A clinic for patients, mostly with lung cancer, who have difficulties with breathing.

All of our services aim to help people adapt to their life limiting illness.  We do this by being an advocate for the patient.  We provide practical skills, help and advice.

How much would it cost for you to attend?

Nothing.  Lewis-Manning does not charge for any of the services offered.

Where is Lewis-Manning Hospice?

The hospice is situated just off Evening Hill in Poole.  Here is a map to show you the exact location

How can I get there?

If you can arrange to make the journey to and from Lewis-Manning then we encourage you to do so.  However, if that is not possible we can provide volunteer transport in most circumstances.   If you are particularly disabled and wish to attend the day hospice, we can usually arrange for ambulance transport to bring you here and home.  

When is the day hospice open?

The day hospice is open for patients between 10am and 4pm, Monday to Friday.  Staff are present from 9am to 5pm.  We are closed on bank holidays.

Who would benefit from attending?

You would need to be aged 18 or over and living with a life limiting or life threatening illness. Receiving the news that an illness threatens life changes how you feel about everything.  Loved ones also change their outlook on life. If you are in this situation and finding it particularly hard then we can help support you. You would, however, need to be fit enough to travel to Lewis-Manning and be able to give consent to the services we offer.

What geographical area does the day hospice cover ?

On the whole, the catchment area for Lewis-Manning Day Hospice is the same area as covered by Forest Holme, which is the in-patient hospice attached to Poole Hospital.  Therefore you would need to live in the Poole area or in most other parts of the eastern Dorset.   If you live outside this area then we would need to discuss this situation with yourself and our palliative care colleagues who work in your area.   

Who would refer me?

Most patients are referred to Lewis-Manning by a healthcare professional such as a district nurse, specialist nurse, or GP. (A professional might have already suggested Lewis-Manning to you.)  After we receive a completed referral form we arrange to see you in your home to discuss whether the service we offer would be of help and appropriate.   Both you and Lewis-Manning would need to assess whether what we offer is suitable for your needs.  A start date would be given after mutual consent.  

Alternatively, you, or someone representing you, can start the process of referral. This could be by telephone, email or letter, or by arranging a visit.   After this has happened, Lewis-Manning would need to discuss this informal referral with a health or social care professional involved in your care.  If appropriate, a professional would then send a written referral.  In any event, we would need your GP to know about and approve this referral.