Primrose Hospice Myth Busters
Whether it’s ancient aliens building the pyramids or Bigfoot lurking in the forest, you’ll find plenty of affirmative stories out there. Similarly, there are plenty of myths circling around hospice care that couldn’t be further from the truth. Here are some of our favourites whose time for myth busting has come!
“Hospices are quiet, sombre places.”
Walk through our doors on any given day and you’re just as likely to hear laughter as anything else. There’s cake, there’s gossip, and occasionally there’s someone absolutely thrashing everyone at dominoes.
“Hospice care is paid by the NHS.”
Hospices rely on charitable funding to deliver their care. Every coffee morning, every charity shop purchase, and every sponsored walk helps keep our doors open. When you support your local hospice, you are helping us to support more patients and families in our community.
“You have to be referred by a hospital consultant.”
GPs, district nurses, and other healthcare professionals can all refer to us. In many cases, patients and families can even get in touch directly. If you’re unsure, just pick up the phone or take a look at our self-referral page.
“Talking about death in morbid.”
Actually, the conversations that happen at Primrose Hospice are some of the most honest, freeing, and even funny ones people will ever have. There’s something incredibly powerful about being in a place where nobody tiptoes around the big stuff.
“I thought that if you visit a hospice you will see people dying.”
At Primrose Hospice you won’t see people in beds – our Day Hospice supports patients to live the fullest life they can. Others might be in enjoying relaxing yoga or in a workshop, painting something they’re genuinely proud of.
“Hospices are clinical, sterile places.”
Walk into our building and you’ll notice it feels much more like someone’s home than a hospital ward. Comfy chairs, familiar smells from the kitchen, art on the walls, and not a strip of fluorescent lighting in sight. Our gardens are also something special!
“Hospice care is only for people with cancer.”
Here at Primrose Hospice we support patients with cancer but we also support people living with life-limiting illnesses such as palliative heart failure, palliative lung conditions, neurological conditions and more. “Coming to Primrose Hospice has given me confidence to leave the house… You feel so supported by the professional nursing staff.” – Steve, Day Hospice patient.
“Volunteering at a hospice must be really depressing.”
Ask any of our volunteers and they’ll tell you it’s one of the most rewarding things they’ve ever done. Many say they get far more out of it than they give. Some have been with us for decades and wouldn’t dream of stopping.
“Hospice is only for people who are already very unwell.”
Some people are referred to us months, sometimes even a year or more before they might need end-of-life support . Early involvement means we can help people stay well for longer, plan ahead, and avoid crisis points further down the line. Hospice care isn’t about the final weeks or days of your life, it is about enhancing and maintaining quality of life at every stage.
“Hospice staff must go home feeling sad every day.”
Our teams will tell you that this work is a privilege. Yes, there are hard days, but there are also days filled with belly laughs, unexpected celebrations, and the kind of human connection most people rarely experience in a workplace. Staff don’t stay for years because it’s gloomy – they stay because it’s extraordinary.
“Only patients benefit from hospice services.”
Our dedicated Family Support Centre shows otherwise. Here we offer a range of support services to families and carers including adult family support, support for children and young people, living well services, counselling, support groups, and more!
“Donating to a charity shop is like throwing something away.”
When people donate their pre-loved items to our charity shops, many people find comfort knowing that their items are not only going on to have a second life but they are supporting Hospice care. “I just wanted to drop you a line to say thank you for collecting my donations… The staff were very respectful.” – Retail supporter.
“Hospices are places you go to die.”
Primrose Hospice & Family Support Centre offers a warm and welcoming environment where our patients and clients visit for the day to receive care and support. “I come here to live, not die.” – Pam, GALS Group patient.
Just like the pyramids of old, Primrose Hospice got to where it is today with hard work, expertise and people like you believing in our mission. It’s your donations and help to spread the word that enable us to do our work and support our community: together people can do amazing things!
These are just some of the interesting conversations you’ll find around our coffee table, why not join us for the next round? To learn more about Primrose Hospice & Family Support Centre get in touch via our referral page.
