Busting myths about Dove House Hospice

Dove House hospice

Myth 

Busting

There are many rumours and misconceptions about Dove House Hospice and hospice care in general so below we have compiled a list of these common beliefs and told you the truth about the hospice.

MYTH: You only come to Dove House Hospice to die.

End of life care is only a really small part of the work we do here at Dove House Hospice.

We have a Day Therapy Unit where up to 25 patients can visit each day Tuesday – Friday to benefit from therapies and support tailored to their individual needs.

Our Inpatient Unit offers a respite care service where patients can come to the hospice and stay while their families and carers are able to have a break from the hard work of caring.

Our care extends to the whole family not just the person who is ill and we offer a number of psychological, physical, social and spiritual support services for everyone to make use of. We also offer bereavement support for as long as we are needed.

We encourage patients to choose their own preferred place of care and can make arrangements for patients to come into the hospice for their final days or, if they are already at Dove House Hospice, make arrangements for them to go home. 

MYTH: Dove House Hospice is a religious service and you can only access it if you are religious.

Dove House Hospice provides care for anyone in the local community regardless of religion, race or cultural background.

We do offer spiritual and pastoral care for any of our patients if they would like it. We have a multi-faith room, the York Room, which is used for services, communion, reflection time, meditation and moments of peace.

MYTH: Dove House Hospice is a gloomy and sad place.

The hospice is generally a happy place and the staff and volunteers are very friendly. The atmosphere is warm and relaxing and we encourage our patients to make themselves at home so the hospice has many home comforts to keep our patients and their families smiling.

MYTH: It must cost a lot to use the services Dove House Hospice provides?

The services Dove House Hospice provides are completely free of charge to patients and their families. The hospice is maintained by funds raised in the local community and support from the Primary Care Trusts.

MYTH: The hospice only helps people from a 'middle-class' background.

Here at Dove House Hospice we strive to make our services available to everyone in the community who needs us regardless of social position, wealth or background - anyone who needs us is welcome here.

MYTH: Only old people go to Dove House Hospice.

Dove House Hospice can provide specialist care to anyone over the age of 18 years old who has had a diagnosis of a non-curable life limiting illness. Patients at the hospice vary in ages and any adult is able to access the services if they need them.

MYTH: Dove House is just the same as a nursing home.

Although Dove House Hospice provides 24 hour care as part of its service this is on a short term basis and patients usually need this for no longer than two weeks. Unlike a nursing home the hospice specialises in improving the quality of life for a patient because of a specific illness, it does not provide general nursing care. Dove House Hospice does work alongside local nursing homes to ensure that our patients are receiving the best care wherever they might be living.

MYTH: You can only use Dove House Hospice if you have Cancer.

Although a lot of our patients are living with cancer this is not the only illness we care for. We look after patients who have had any diagnosis of a non-curable life limiting illness including respiratory disorders, heart diseases, renal disorders, motor neurone disease and other neurological problems, HIV/aids to name but a few. The team at the hospice are used to dealing with a wide range of illness including more complex and rare cases.

MYTH: Dove House Hospice is totally funded by statutory bodies such as the NHS.

Dove House Hospice receives funding from the local Primary Care Trusts and other statutory bodies to deliver the services it provides for approximately 45 days. We need to raise around £6.1 million every year to meet the rest of the running costs. We do this through income generation streams such as our 33 Dove House shops, fundraising in the community and the Dove House Lottery. The support of the local community in Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire is extremely important to us and we wouldn't be able to maintain our services without it so thank you for your support.

MYTH: Dove House Hospice is just a shop where I can pick up a bargain!

Dove House Hospice has 33 charity shops in Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire area that raise a fantastic amount of money which helps the hospice continue to provide its services.

The hospice itself is based on one site on Chamberlain Road East Hull.

We have done several blogs about Dove House hospice here at Clark trading who we are proud to support not in the short term but for the long run with no end in sight we are in it for the long haul.