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WHAT IS A CHILDREN'S HOSPICE?
The children's hospice provides care for those children who are suffering from life threatening and life limiting diseases. The children's hospice at Trinity is called Brian House, it opened in 1996 and is available to those children and their families where the child's illness does not presently have a cure.

Photographs showing the outside of Brian House and a view of one of the bedrooms

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 profoundly handicapped child 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 handicapped child the stimulus of fresh company, provided by other children and the staff, for them to explore and enjoy the facilities of Brian House.
DO CHILDREN HAVE TO HAVE CANCER TO ATTEND?
No. Most children who attend Brian House do not have a cancer related illness. Children with life threatening or life limiting diseases 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.
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 CHILDREN?
Brian House 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. There is much work to be done in extending the care teams work into the community to complement the facilities of Brian House.

HOW DOES A CHILD ATTEND BRIAN HOUSE?
As with all patients who are referred to Trinity the referral comes initially through the patients General Practitioner or Hospital Consultant.

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 HAVE SPECIAL EQUIPMENT FOR CHILDREN? Photographs showing the outside of Brian House and a view of one of the bedrooms
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 and professional social workers. Each is able to bring their professional and practical knowledge to help in the myriad of human predicaments that life produces.

Visit the Brian House web site at www.brianhouse.inthefylde.org.uk