Frequently Asked Questions
What is Brian House Children's Hospice
Brian House Children's Hospice provides care for those children who have life threatening or life limiting illnesses. The children's hospice at Trinity is called Brian House Children’s Hospice, it opened in 1996 and is available to those children and their families where the child's illness may not presently have a cure.
Why is a Children's Hospice needed?
For most children care in their homes is best. However respite care, given at appropriate intervals, enables the family to have time for themselves. To give parents a break from the 24 hour demands of caring for a child with multiple complex needs and to have time for one another. Where there are brothers and sisters to allow them to have the sole attention of their parents for a time. Respite care also gives the complex needs child the stimulus of fresh company, provided by other children and the staff, for them to explore and enjoy the facilities of Brian House Children’s Hospice.
Do children have to have cancer to attend Brian House?
No. Most children who attend Brian House do not have a cancer related illness. Children with life threatening or life limiting illnesses attend Brian House.
How many children can come to Brian House?
Brian House can accommodate four children as in-patients, plus an additional four as day patients, with one emergency bed.
Do children at Brian House receive any teaching facilities?
During term time arrangements are made for those children of school age to attend their normal education routines away from Brian House returning each afternoon when school has finished.
What other help can Brian House give to children?
Brian House Children's Hospice is available for parents when a sudden and unexpected emergency arises within the family by helping to accommodate their child during the day and overnight. Parents and carers can talk to Brian House staff at any time for advice or for support. Click here for more details on the Brian House Children's Hospice Outreach Service.
How does a child attend Brian House Children's Hospice?
Referrals are accepted from all Health Care Professionals or members of the family with parents/carers permission.
Can parents stay with their children?
Facilities are available for families to stay if they wish. Usually parents stay on first admission to reassure mum and for her to teach the staff to care for her child as she does. Also if mum is breast feeding her baby, or when a child is dying.
Does Brian House Children's Hospice have special equipment for the children?
Yes it most certainly does! Equipment is available to extend a childs sensory perception in touch, vision and sound. Brian House has many facilities to enhance the lives of its patients. There is a team of skilled qualified nurses specially trained in palliative care medicine, a Playworker and Health Care Assistants. Each is able to bring their professional and practical knowledge to help in the myriad of human predicaments that life produces.