Day Hospice

Day Hospice is one of the busiest places at Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice. The patients who visit Day Hospice come for a variety of reasons - some come for the companionship and activities, others come for specialist medical or nursing care, others visit to allow their carers a respite one day a week. All of the patients are able to live at home, but can take advantage of all of the Hospice's services, such as out-patient doctor appointments, complementary therapies, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, the library or nursing care.

Day Hospice is open three days a week (Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays) from 10am to 3pm. A minibus, driven by volunteers, is available to pick up patients from their homes if required. Lunch is served at 12pm, and afternoon tea is available to those who would like it. There are often craft activities and musical entertainment in Day Hospice for the patients who are well enough and want to join in.

On Mondays, Day Hospice opens its doors for two group workshops for patients and carers, Brush With Art (a creative arts group) and Inky Fingers (a creative writing group). These groups run for eight weeks at a time, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, and enable the members to explore and express themselves in creative ways under the guidance of experienced group leaders.

Day Hospice is often referred to as ‘Barbers'. This is because part of the cost is funded by the Worshipful Company of Barber Surgeons, a London livery company whose links with the Hospice go back many years to Sir Edward Tuckwell, who was a London surgeon and the husband of Phyllis Tuckwell.

Many patients derive a lot of pleasure and companionship from their weekly visits to Day Hospice, and we often hear our patients say, "I just wish I had come earlier!".