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Original poster

Urgent question about palliative care

12 replies

MissyB1 · 03/05/2023 15:10

Hi, hoping someone can answer this for me. My lovely brother is in end stage of prostate cancer, he now urgently needs palliative care, preferably in a hospice. The referral has gone through today, his partner is hoping he will get a bed before the weekend. The palliative care services in his area are apparently in conjunction with the hospice. His partner has asked me if he will get this care on the NHS or does hospice care have to be paid for? it’s never occurred to me 🤔 do they have to pay? Should probably add he’s British and lived here all his life so fully entitled to NHS care - but obviously hospices aren’t NHS.

OP posts:
MrsHsGirl · 03/05/2023 15:13

I'm really sorry. You won't have to pay, the hospice beds are funded by NHS/charity

LittleLegsKeepGoing · 03/05/2023 15:15

I'm sorry about your brother Flowers

Hospices are generally run as charities in partnership with the NHS. You won't be charged for palliative care wherever it's based.

Crucible · 03/05/2023 15:17

No - definitely no charge for hospice care. Constant fundraising for ours and NHS covers a lot. I'm so sorry about your brother.

spacechimp79 · 03/05/2023 15:21

Sorry to hear about your brother. Hope he gets into the hospice as soon as possible.

Oldermum84 · 03/05/2023 15:21

Hospices are free as are any hospice at home services there may be in your area. If he can't get a bed and remains at home, needing generic care, he may be liable for to pay a contribution unless a health professional refers him for fast track continuing healthcare. Best wishes xx

Original poster
MissyB1 · 03/05/2023 15:30

@Crucible thank you! We have our fingers crossed for a bed asap 🤞

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Original poster
MissyB1 · 03/05/2023 15:32

He’s got the district nurses coming out this afternoon I’m hoping they push for a bed. At least there aren’t any money worries about care then. It’s so sad 😞

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LittleLegsKeepGoing · 03/05/2023 15:41

In our experience it will need to be your brother's partner who needs to push for a bed. The district nurses can help you with that. They need to tell the district nurses that they can no longer cope with your brother's ongoing care.

It was a heartbreaking moment when we had that conversation about dad but the district nurses were ready for us to say that and helped us get the palliative team care moving more rapidly rather than it being another thing we had to battle.

Original poster
MissyB1 · 03/05/2023 15:57

Yes the district nurses will see for themselves the state he’s in and his partner will explain she absolutely is unable now to meet his needs. He’s conked out on morphine but still moaning in pain, and is unable to move himself. He needs round the clock nursing care. I think he’s deteriorating quickly.

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Crucible · 03/05/2023 16:06

Oh that sounds so hard. The hospices are usually excellent and very fast at pain management. Symptom control is the top priority. I wish you all peace.🌺

bloodywhitecat · 03/05/2023 16:10

If you do need funding for home care then a continuing care referral can be done very, very quickly. DH's was done and agreed within 24 hours and no-one asked any questions about whether or not we could afford to make any contribution for it so please don't worry about the money side of things

Original poster
MissyB1 · 03/05/2023 16:14

Thank you everyone you are all so helpful and kind ❤️

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