Inpatient Unit
We provide specialist care, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at our Inpatient Unit which is located near Wivelsfield Green, on a ridge overlooking the South Downs, nestled amongst ancient woodlands. We are very lucky to have lovely views across our beautiful grounds overlooking the Sussex countryside.
The Inpatient Unit has 8 individual rooms for symptom control and end of life care. All our care is personalised to answer each patient’s physical, emotional and spiritual needs, as well as caring for and supporting the family, carers and loved ones of the patient.
We appreciate that for many it can be difficult to imagine what an Inpatient Unit is like, and we warmly welcome families to visit us anytime they wish. Most of the feedback from our patients and their families describe St Peter & St James Hospice as a calm and peaceful place to be, a space where they can be comfortable and that gives them dignity and privacy. Some of our rooms have patio doors facing out onto the South Downs, others have views over our stunning gardens. For many people, a highlight is being able to hear or visit Dylan and Dudley, our resident donkeys, who can be very ‘vocal’ from time to time! Some of our rooms have their own en-suite bathrooms, and we will always be flexible and accommodating for each family, whatever their needs.
The Inpatient Unit team are a friendly crew, and you may well come across our specialist doctors, Ward Manager, Clinical Nurse Specialists, Nursing Assistants, Healthcare Assistants and Housekeeping team, as well as our incredible catering team.
Many people have a short stay in our Hospice to help reduce the effects of difficult symptoms, such as pain or breathlessness, or when they are approaching the end of their life. Typically people stay with us for a week or two; if your condition stabilises we will support you to return home or to another care facility, if required.
All food is freshly prepared and cooked in our kitchens for patients and is available to purchase for those visiting. Family members and friends are welcome to visit anytime and we can accommodate those who wish to stay with the patient as they approach the end of their life.
Our expert team can help you with symptoms you may have, such as pain, nausea, breathlessness and other difficult symptoms. We can help you plan and record your preferences for your future care. We work closely with your GP and other services to ensure the best possible care for you. We can support you in person, on the phone or with video calls, depending on your needs.
Living with a life-limiting illness can be challenging and prevent you from doing the things that matter most to you. Our goal is to help you to live well. The team at St Peter & St James Hospice will help you to:
- Focus on what Living Well means to you,
- Identify your concerns and priorities,
- Find ways to do the things that matter most to you.
For more information about our Living Well Centre and the activities and sessions available please click the button below.
Our counselling service provides a confidential space with a trained professional to help you make sense of, and adjust to life, at a challenging time. Counselling can help you to improve your quality of life, feel more in control, understand your choices and improve your relationships.
We offer 12 sessions, each 50 minutes long, focusing on the impact of your diagnosis and the effects it has had on you and those close to you. Our counselling service can be provided in your own home, at the hospice, face to face, via phone or online.
When living with a life-limiting illness, people often reflect on their life experiences and questions can arise. You might wonder what your life has been about, what matters most to you, what kind of funeral you would like, or what will happen next.
Our spiritual care team can help you make sense of these questions or discuss confidentially anything you feel you need to. If you are of faith, we can ask our local community faith leaders to support you. We have a quiet, reflective space called The Sanctuary at the Hospice which you are very welcome to visit.
Our Welfare Advice service can help with any practical issues, such as applying for grants and benefits, financial planning, debt advice, housing and transport issues (for instance getting a blue disability parking badge). We can help with any pension changes and life insurance or critical illness cover and ‘death in service’ where this is required.
We can signpost to other services for support with will-writing and funeral planning if needed.
Our social worker is a key member of the hospice team and can work with other agencies to help you explore options and make choices about your care and support, according to your needs and what matters most to you.
Our social worker can support you with your practical, social and emotional needs and is available to your family and friends as well. This might include facilitating challenging conversations, how to communicate with your children or young relatives, plans for guardianship and tackling the effects of isolation.
When thinking about your life there may be a story or message you wish to share with those close to you. Our Hospice Biographers help to make digital recordings of your story or message, which is then transferred to several memory sticks. These are then given to you, so that you can give them to those close to you, at a time of your choosing.
We work with the charity, The Hospice Biographers, which provides specialised training to our volunteers. Our Hospice Biography volunteers record with care and sensitivity on a private, one-to-one basis, using professional recording equipment.
This service can include aromatherapy, massage and reflexology sessions. The therapist will discuss with you what treatment may be of benefit to you and adapt it to suit your needs. Alongside any medical treatment that you may be having, complementary therapies may help to ease a variety of symptoms.
Our physiotherapist works with you to improve your quality of life, providing exercises, education and, where necessary, equipment such as walking aids.
This service aims to:
- Increase your confidence in your mobility
- Help you to do the activities of daily living and adapt to your condition.
- Help control symptoms such as pain and breathlessness
- Support you to return home after a stay on our inpatient unit.
