Care in Lincoln

As a patient you may come into the Inpatient ward for different reasons; you may need help to control pain or symptoms, or for care at the end of your life.

Referral to the Inpatient ward is via a healthcare professional such as your GP, specialist nurse, community nurse or hospital.

This is different from patient to patient and the St Barnabas Lincoln Inpatient Unit is not a long stay unit. The average length of stay for most patients is two weeks. This could be longer depending on the reason for your admission and your ongoing need for hospice care.

The ward has a mixture of single rooms and four-bedded bays. You will be allocated a single room or a bed in a bay according to your nursing need, preference and bed availability. Some of the bed spaces can open out onto the garden terrace.

During your stay nurses, health care support workers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, doctors and other healthcare professionals will care for you. There are also volunteers who help with things like making drinks for you.

Please bring in with you all the medicines that you are currently taking, including any over the counter or alternative therapies.

You will also need to bring the following:

• Night clothes
• Day clothes
• Toiletries, including soap, a toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner
• Glasses/hearing aid/dentures – if you wear them
• Things to occupy you, such as books, magazines, mobile phone or laptop – there is free WiFi available
• A small amount of money to purchase items such as newspapers, which can be ordered at reception

We do have a small safe for valuables, but we would advise you to leave large sums of money or jewellery at home. You will have access to a lockable drawer by your bedside.

Please note: St Barnabas Hospice accepts no responsibility for the loss of, or damage to, personal property of any kind, in whatever way loss or damage may occur.

The Hospice is a no smoking building and supports a no smoking policy. Patients who wish to smoke can do so in the designated smoking area. Please note that patients are not permitted to smoke if oxygen is being administered, or whilst outside in their bed.

For safety, the Hospice is locked from 10pm each night and patients are asked not to smoke after this time. Visitors are not permitted to smoke on site.

We do our best to cater for your individual preferences, so ask for what you fancy.

Breakfast is served every day from 8am onwards with a choice of a cooked breakfast, cereals or toast.

Lunch will be served between 12pm and 1pm from an á la carte or set menu. Remember, if there is nothing that appeals to you, our kitchen staff are happy to accommodate any preferences whenever possible.

Your evening meal will be served between 5pm and 6pm.

If you are on a special diet or have specific dietary requirements, please tell us so that we can prepare a meal that suits you.

Meals can be enjoyed by your bed space, in the patient dining area or outside on the terrace.

Light snacks and drinks are also available at any time during the day or night.

In line with Government Guidance, we are pleased that visiting restrictions can be eased to better support our patients and families.

Patients will continue to have access to iPads should you wish to have “virtual visits” and these can be made available at any time.

To keep infection risks as low as possible, we ask that you do not access the unit if you have any symptoms of Covid or ‘Flu. If you are symptomatic and your loved one is receiving end of life care, you will need to provide valid proof that you have a negative Covid test result before visiting. Please discuss with the nurse in charge on the usual number (01522 511566) prior to leaving home. If you have been called in urgently, staff will work through a risk assessment which will allow you to visit as required whilst maintaining the safety of the unit.

We ask that only 2 visitors are at the bedside at any one time, however, if required, this can be discussed with the team so we continue to support the needs of patients and families in the best way possible.

Children are welcome to visit the Hospice and there is a designated play area within the conservatory. Children must be supervised at all times. Your pets can also be brought in by prior arrangement with the nurse in charge.

For those patients who are not receiving end of life care, visiting will be between 11.00 and 19.30 each day. We will continue to respect Quiet Time daily from 14.00 until 15.30; this allows our patients to rest, and we would encourage you to avoid this timeframe. It will also give you the opportunity to have some time of your own.

For those patients who are receiving end of life care, following discussion with the nurse in charge, you should be able to visit at any point within each 24 hour period. If you need to stay overnight with your loved one, this can be accommodated within the unit.

For those patients who are receiving end of life care, following discussion with the nurse in charge, you should be able to visit at any point within each 24 hour period. If you need to stay overnight with your loved one, this can be accommodated within the unit.

During the daytime, your visitors can order a variety of light meals from the reception for a small charge. This can be done prior to your visit or upon arrival. A complimentary breakfast will be offered to visitors who have stayed overnight at the Hospice.

A volunteer or member of staff will be happy to make a drink for visitors during the course of their visit. There is also provisions available with the reception area.

St Barnabas Hospice is situated in the historic centre of Lincoln, therefore parking is limited. We do have some visitor marked parking areas within the Hospice grounds, but when these are full, visitors are encouraged to take advantage of the on-street parking nearby.

However, there are a number of resident parking zones and if you are unable to find on-street parking there are paid car parks close by in the Bailgate area.