Our specialist teams continue to care for local people with life limiting illnesses and at the end of life, on our ward and in the community. As a result of the pandemic, we are experiencing increased pressure on our services and continue to aim to treat every patient according to their need.

We have extensive infection prevention and control measures in place to prevent and manage coronavirus infections. These include making face masks available for patients and visitors, regular hand hygiene, regular ventilation, and use of medical PPE when required.

We have adapted our care and support during the pandemic to continue to provide our vital hospice services. Our Inpatient Unit (Ward) remains open. Our expert care in the local community in people’s homes continues to be delivered. Our Living Well Centre services, bereavement services and education courses continue to take place with social distancing been adhered to. Hospice tours and face-to-face meetings are restarting at our Hospice building.

The ward areas of our building meet Government guidelines for safety and infection control practices. For other areas of our building we are required to risk assess to ensure a COVID secure workplace – please see our risk assessment here.

Visiting hours are 11am to 10pm. Family and loved ones can visit patients staying in the Inpatient Unit, for the duration of the patient’s stay. If you would like to visit before 1100 please speak to one of the nurses.

We can welcome patients’ pets and children, however children under 14 must be accompanied. To discuss overnight stays and larger family groups, please speak to the Ward nurse in charge in advance.

We do not require evidence of a negative COVID-19 test to visit the Hospice at this time. We do recommend that you take a COVID-19 test regularly, to help protect our vulnerable patients.

If you feel at all unwell and in particular have a respiratory illness, a new, continuous cough or high temperature, loss of taste or sense of smell, please DO NOT VISIT. Whilst we are grateful for the support of our local community we politely request that ALL non-essential visitors refrain from visiting the Hospice at this time.

For further information on visiting please read this leaflet

Many patients will be able to pick up the phone and call or message their friends and family members themselves. However, not all will be able to do this.

If you would like to send a message or a letter to a loved one who is currently an inpatient at St Wilfrid’s Hospice in Bosham, please do so by email.

Email: ward.patients@stwh.co.uk

This email address is monitored from 09:00 – 17:00 Monday to Friday. Letters and messages sent through after 16:00 (or anytime on a Saturday or Sunday) will be delivered the next working day.

The Inpatient Services team will print out your message and deliver it to your loved one. If the patient is well enough, they can read it themselves. If not, a member of our team will read the message to them. We will not be able to confirm that individual letters have been passed on and read. However, if there is a problem in identifying the patient or delivering the letter we will let you know that it has not been passed on.

Events organised by St Wilfrid’s are reviewed on a case by case basis. Please do check our website for updates. If you are participating in an event organised by a third party in aid of St Wilfrid’s, such as the London Marathon, then please check with the organiser for further information.  

All 12 of our shops are open. For the latest opening times and information on donation drop offs, please visit our shop opening and location page.

With the adaptation of our donation processing and shop operating practices, safety remains a top priority.

Our staff and volunteers have demonstrated amazing dedication to St Wilfrid’s and we would like to say a big thank you to everyone who made these re-opening after lockdown possible. 

We also continue to trade online and urge the public to continue to support their local Hospice through this time. You can find all our different online shops here

If you are a volunteer then please follow the Public Health England guidance and do not participate in any Hospice activity if you feel unwell or in the at risk age group. Please contact the Hospice to let them know of any absence so that they may plan accordingly.   

If you show signs of symptoms of Coronavirus, please follow Government advice which can be found here: www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/coronavirus-covid-19-uk-government-response