Your Questions Answered

Below are the questions we are most often asked. You can find answers to questions on areas of our work by clicking on one of the links to the left. And please contact us if you have a question that isn't answered here.

Is St. John's Hospice a charity?
Yes, St. John's Hospice is part of the Hospital of St John & St Elizabeth, which is a registered charity. The Hospital is committed to serving the medical needs of the local community by working with other local healthcare providers, the NHS and through fund raising and hospital surpluses to treat patients with life threatening illnesses, without charge, in their homes and in St John's Hospice.

Is there any charge for the services provided at St. John's Hospice?
No. All of our services are provided free to patients and their families. In 2010, it will cost us close to £4 million to run our services. We do receive funding from the NHS, but for the remaining £1.5 million, we rely on voluntary donations and the generosity of our local community.

Is St. John's Hospice only for people with cancer?
No. We look after patients with any terminal illness. St. John's Hospice was pioneering in developing an inclusive approach to looking after people living with HIV/AIDS in the 1980's, and we now look after people with a wide range of illnesses including dementia, heart disease, respiratory disease, renal failure and long-term neurological diseases, as well as cancer.

Are all of your services privded at the Hospice?
No. We have 19 in-patient beds and provide support to 20 people per day through our Day Services in the Hospice. However, we also support people in the community through our Community Macmillan Clinical Nurse Specialist Team and the Hospice@Home service. Our Lymphoedema Service sees people in clinics at the Hospice and in their own homes.

How do I get referred to St John's Hospice?
You are welcome to call us to enquire about the possibility of care from St. John's Hospice, but we would then ask you to contact your GP to arrange the referral. Download our referral form here.

Which part of London do you cover?
St. John's Hospice cares for people in central and north west London, an area with a population of approximately 1.5 million people.

We have contracts with seven NHS Primary Care Trusts, although not all of our services are available in each area:

  • Westminster - all of our services are available to the registered population of Westminster, however people living in the far west and south of Westminster may be referred to the Community Nursing teams based at the Pembridge Centre or Trinity Hospice.
  • Brent - we provide in-patient services, day services, hospice@home and the lymphoedema service.
  • Camden - we provide in-patient services and day services.
  • Islington - we provide in-patient services and day services.
  • Barnet - we provide in-patient services and day services.
  • Kensington & Chelsea - we provide the hospice@home service.
  • Hammersmith & Fulham - we provide in-patient services for people living with HIV/AIDS.
What do volunteers do at the Hospice?
Volunteers are absolutely vital to the work that we do here at the Hospice, and they generously give their time to help us in all aspects of our work. At present, over 120 volunteers work on the In-Patient Unit and in Day Services, providing both practical and emotional support to our patients. Volunteers also provide crucial support to our Fundraising team and in the Hospice Shop.

We are very proud to have recently achieved the prestigious Investing in Volunteers standard.