FAQs

Woking & Sam Beare Hospice mainly provides support to patients with advanced disease and their families and we accept referrals from six Surrey Boroughs [Spelthorn, West Elmbridge, Runnymede, Surrey Heath, Woking and North Guildford]. But we do also provide support to people form outside of that area when required. You can ask to be referred to our services and our clinical team through your General Practitioner (GP), the specialist team caring for you, your community team or district nurse or a hospital palliative care professional.For more information about referrals please click here.

Palliative care is a term that is used when referring to the holistic specialist care of patients with advanced progressive illness. This means the management of symptoms including pain, loss of appetite, tiredness, breathlessness and the provision of psychological, social and spiritual support by a team of specialist doctors, nurses and therapists. The aim of such care is to understand and address what is important to you and your family. Many aspects of specialist palliative care and support can be helpful in the early days of hearing of a serious illness alongside other treatment and care. For more information about the type of care and support we offer please click here.

We provide specialist palliative care that is delivered by a team of specialist healthcare professionals all experienced in caring for patients with life-limiting and terminal illnesses. Our care is led by the needs of the individual patient and it is holistic, which means we offer emotional, social, practical and spiritual support as well as managing medical and clinical needs.

We strive to offer you and your whole family the best in care and support through a range of services that include: nursing care; medical care; symptom support; support with nutrition; counselling; physiotherapy; occupational therapy; complementary therapy, such as massage and reflexology; spiritual care; information and support on a range of practical matters that might include financial support for example. We also deliver counselling for family members, including child bereavement services. For more information please click here.

We care for and support people with life-limiting and terminal illnesses, their carers and families. We care for adults of all ages with advance conditions, for example, for those who have cancer, dementia, heart disease, Motor Neurone Disease (MND), advanced lung disease, kidney disease, Parkinson’s disease and Multiple Sclerosis (MS). We help people to manage their symptoms, with the expertise of our Clinical Nurse Specialists [CNSs] and the medical team who are specialists in Palliative Medicine.

CNS stands for Clinical Nurse Specialists. These are nursing professionals who are specifically trained to support people with advanced disease. Their focus is on addressing patient physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs. Our CNS team is based in Woking are very experienced in supporting people who have a life-limiting illness and their families. They provide care to across six Surrey boroughs.

We provide care for our patients as individuals and we aim to ensure that this is delivered in the best way to meet individual need. It is our mission to always ensure patient choice. Over 80% of our care is delivered in the community in patient homes, care homes or nursing homes. However, there are times when an individual with advanced disease may need to be admitted to our inpatient unit/ward for nursing care, medical treatment and support. The duration of stay will depend on the needs of the individual and/or their carer. The focus will be on managing symptoms, supporting the family and terminal care when required.

Our Bradbury Wellbeing Centre offers a physiotherapy gym and other therapies and alternative therapies. Patients can either come in for the day or drop in for specific sessions. This is designed to be an opportunity to socialise with other patients and engage in activities to support wellbeing. Patients who are on the ward can also access the Wellbeing Centre as is appropriate. For more information please click here.

It is our promise that we deliver patient care with respect and empathy to ensure the privacy and dignity of all under our care. Our team of experts provide an environment that is safe, warm and friendly. Our commitment is to listen and understand your concerns and your needs so that together we can plan care that is suited to you or the person you care about.

Once admitted and you arrive at the hospice you and your family will be met by one of our specialist team and the nursing team will introduce themselves and you will be shown to your room. Our team will come and talk to you and your family about your needs and wishes and how we plan to care and support you.

Each patient room is private with en-suite shower room and balcony. In-patient care is 24/7 and you will receive the support and care of experienced staff. For more information please click here.

The hospice’s main reception is open from 8am – 6pm. Visitor’s outside of these hours who wish to visit a patient on the ward are welcome 24/7 and there is an intercom system that allows access outside of the normal reception hours, which notifies the ward once you arrive at the main entrance to the hospice.

For anyone that requires our services in an emergency please be advised of the following: In-patients: 01483 881750

Our Hospice at Home team care for people in North west Surrey with deteriorating health and for those who wish to die at home with their family and friends.

The Hospice at Home team are skilled registered nurses and health care assistants who offer personal centred care, advice and support at home.

They work closely together complementing the care given by our community healthcare colleagues, including the CSH District Nursing Service.

This care can be for a few days, or a period of weeks [typically in the patient's last 6-8 weeks of life] depending upon the individuals needs.

For more information click here

Hospice care is patient-led. Our team will talk to you about your wishes and needs and review these with you regularly. We will work with you and those who care about you and at every step we will strive to ensure we respond to your needs. Our team of experts will assess and monitor you and your individual circumstances and, depending on what is in the best interests and safety of you and your carers, it is our primary objective to ensure patient choice. However, in certain situations due to medical or nursing care it may not be possible for someone to be cared for at home but we will always talk to you and provide you with a place of safety that is right for you.

Our Sam Beare Community Team, Woking Community Team and CoSI teams are all very experienced in caring for patients in their own homes. For more information please click here.

Our hospice team will talk to you about your wishes and needs and review these with you regularly. We will work with you and those who care about you and at every step we will strive to ensure we respond to your needs. We also know that you may change your mind and wish to come to the hospice if you had previously chosen to be at home. Equally you may be admitted to the ward but then wish to return to your home. In certain situations due to medical or nursing care it may not be possible for someone to be cared for at home but we will always talk to you and provide you with a place of safety that is right for you. 

Patient confidentiality is paramount and we would not be able to discuss the details of a patient with a third party, unless you are an authorised carer or next of kin. However, if you have concerns about a family member, friend or a member of the community, whether they are known to you or not, then please get in touch with us:

Community Team: 01483 881755

Woking & Sam Beare Hospice receives some government funding but we are a registered charity [No: 1082798 / 1115439]. We work collaboratively with GPs, Health Care Providers, District Nurses, other carers' groups and other services and organisations across the region but we are not a part of the NHS.

All of the services that Woking & Sam Beare Hospice provide for patients, their carers and families, are offered FREE of charge. 

We are very lucky to have a wide network of over 813 volunteers who are incredible and give up their time, experience and skills to help us deliver our care, run our shops, support our events and to fundraise for us. We could not do all we do without this wonderful group of people. For more information please click here.

We have 18 retail outlets across our region, as well as an online shop. Our new website allows you to enter your post code to locate your nearest shop. For more information please click here.

If you wish to donate items to our shops to enable us to sell these to raise funds for the hospice, the key thing we please ask is that they are of good quality. For more information about goodies we accept and how you can donate them please click here.

If you and/or your carer is unable to get to the hospice in Goldsworth Park Centre, Woking, please inform us at your soonest convenience to give us as much notice as possible. Wherever possible we will try to assist with travel arrangements.

Woking & Sam Beare Hospice is a 'Data Controller', which means we collect, use and retain information. To ensure that we process your personal data fairly and lawfully we are required to inform you:

• Why we need your data
• How it will be used and
• Who it will be shared with
• How to access your information

For the full details of our Privacy Notice and to find out more about what information we collect and why please click here.

Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs), previously known as Primary Health Care Trusts, are responsible for commissioning the health care requirements for any given population across England that best meets the needs of that given population. For more information please visit the NHS’s website.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and adult social care in England. It is responsible for ensuring health and social care services provide people with safe, effective, compassionate and high-quality care. As a hospice care provider we constantly work to ensure we are compliant with all CQC regulations and expectations. For more information please visit the CQC’s website.

As a patient-led charity we continually strive to provide services that are of the highest quality. We are therefore reliant on our community to tell us what we do well but equally what we need to improve on. For more information about our compliments and complaints please click here.

As a specialist palliative care provider we need to keep important information about those in our care or using our services. This information is only used to offer you care and treatment and to ensure you are cared for safely. The hospice has a very strict data protection policy and patient confidentially is our priority. Your personal records are only accessible to those responsible for your care and wellbeing. If you are concerned about how we might use any information or data about you then please speak to a member of the clinical team. For more information and to read our Privacy Policy please click here.

There are a range of events, challenges and different ways the community can support its hospice care provider. Please click here to find out ways you can get involved or to speak to a member of our fundraising team: [email protected].