Day Hospice

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The Day Hospice is part of St Peter & St James which is located on the border of Wivelsfield Green and North Chailey in East Sussex. The Day hospice was officially opened in 1995 by Dame Vera Lynn who is one of our patrons.

The aims of the Day Hospice are:

  • To focus on patients' quality of life by attending to their physical, psychological, emotional and social needs
  • To provide an opportunity for patients to socialise with other patients and our volunteers in a fun and friendly environment
  • To be a continuing source of support by offering patients regular opportunities to speak to our nurses
  • To offer a wide variety of activities and entertainment
  • To enable patients to remain at home, and to give their carers a regular period of respite

Availability

The Day Hospice is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10.00am - 3.30pm.

How often patients attend will depend on their individual needs but most patients will visit once a week. Patients' needs and suitability to attend will be reviewed every 3 months.

Support

If appropriate, you can be referred to our Physiotherapist, Welfare Officer, or Counsellor. You will remain under the care of your GP but if appropriate our specialist doctors will offer advice regarding your illness. A service of Holy Communion takes place on Thursdays at 11.30am and is open to all who wish to attend.

Fun!

We have a lot of fun in the Day Hospice in the belief that the social element is just as important as the clinical input. We offer a full programme of events which include arts and crafts, games, quizzes and current affairs discussions. We also have outings, and various groups visiting the Day hospice to entertain us.

Complementary Therapies

Patients have access to our complementary therapists who offer aromatherapy, massage treatments and relaxation sessions.

Meals

Patients are offered tea or coffee on arrival, a hot, homemade meal at 12.30pm (after a sherry!) and then tea and cake at 3.00pm prior to going home. Special diets can be catered for.

The Grounds

Set in 28 acres of Sussex countryside, St Peter & St James has spectacular views across the South Downs. We encourage our patients and their loved ones to make the most of our grounds, which include landscaped gardens, a wheelchair friendly woodland walk and a summer house.

Transport

If patients are unable to make their own way to the Day hospice, our minibus can collect and take home patients within a ten mile radius of St Peter & St James. The minibus operates between 9.15am - 9.45am for collection and takes patients home at 3.30pm. We also have volunteers who use their own cars to collect and take home patients.

Volunteers

The Day Hospice nurses are supported by a hard working and energetic team of volunteers who carry out a range of tasks including driving the minibus, serving tea and coffee, arranging craft activities and games, and simply sitting and chatting with patients. Each and every one of them plays a vital role and we are so grateful for everything that they do. To find out more about the vital role of volunteers at St Peter & St James please click here.

Referral to St Peter & St James as a Hospice patient

Hospice patients are eligible for all Hospice services including referral to the Day hospice. To be referred patients must be suffering from a progressive, incurable illness. Such conditions include cancers, neurological conditions including Motor Neurone Disease and Multi-System Atrophy, HIV and AIDS, and far-advanced organ failures.

Hospice patients must also live within our catchment area. Click here to see a map of our catchment area. Referral procedure Referrals are usually made by health professionals such as GPs, District Nurses, or Consultants.