Top Five Myths About Hospice Care

Ahead of this year’s World Hospice & Palliative Care Day on 9th October, each day we will be sharing news, initiatives and campaigns from Willowbrook Hospice to show our community how we are committed to equity and equality of care. We believe everyone should have access to palliative and end of life care, no matter who they are or what their background is.

What do you think of when you think of hospice and palliative care? Do you know what it entails? We’ve found that often, patients and their families have beliefs and preconceptions about hospice care that don’t match up with the reality when they come through Willowbrook’s doors. These myths can negatively impact patients’ feelings about receiving hospice care, so today we’re dispelling the top five myths to ultimately help to improve access to hospice and palliative care through improving understanding.

1. When patients come to the Hospice, they won’t leave. It’s a common misconception that once a patient is referred to the Hospice, it’s the end. In fact, around half of our patients go home after we provide pain management and help them with other symptoms, so they can continue living well.
2. Hospices are sombre, sad places. Although we are also here for people who are dying and near the end of lives, Willowbrook is a place of remarkable light, laughter and love. From the beautiful setting to the compassionate care provided by our staff, we try to make Willowbrook a place of joy for our patients.
3. Hospices only care for cancer patients. We provide expert care for people with a wide range of illnesses, including heart failure, kidney failure, motor neurone disease, chronic chest conditions and COPD, as well as cancer.
4. Patients need to pay to access specialist palliative care. The specialist care that we provide is free to anyone who needs it and is referred to us. Unfortunately that is not the case globally, and as a member of the Worldwide Hospice Palliative Care Alliance, this World Hospice & Palliative Care Day we are campaigning to ask governments across the world to finance palliative care for all people in their countries in order to achieve equity in access.
5. Hospices in the UK receive most of their funding from the NHS. At Willowbrook, we only receive around 26% of our £5m+ running costs through CCG funding. We have to raise around £3.8m per year through our shops and fundraising in order to keep the Hospice running and continue to provide free outstanding care to those who need it.

Willowbrook Hospice is one of the UK members of the Worldwide Hospice Palliative Care Alliance (WHPCA), an international non-governmental organisation focusing exclusively on hospice and palliative care development worldwide and a global voice on hospice and palliative care. World Hospice & Palliative Care Day is an annual unified day of action to celebrate and support hospice and palliative care around the world. This year’s theme is “Leave no-one behind – equity in access to palliative care”.