St Luke’s In Patient Centre
Our In Patient Centre is open day and night, all year round, with qualified medical, nursing and allied health professional teams caring for up to 20 patients at a time. Care is personal, centred on each individual's wishes to help them make the most of every moment.
View our virtual video tour
We know that new places can feel daunting. That’s why we’ve created a virtual video tour of our main hospice site, so you can see key areas of the building and learn more about the services we provide. We hope this helps you and your loved ones feel more prepared when visiting St Luke’s.
About St Luke’s – Sheffield’s Hospice
At St Luke’s, we care for adults in Sheffield who are affected by a terminal illness, and for their loved ones too. Some patients stay at our In Patient Centre for short or long-term symptom management or end of life care. Other patients are attended to at home throughout their illness. Whatever your decision, our focus is on making sure that you and your loved one can have the best possible quality of life, relief from symptoms, and flexible choices for end of life care.
Alongside clinical care, our patients can access a wide range of non-medical support at the Hospice and our Social Prescribing site, including physical, wellbeing and creative therapies, social work, and psychological, emotional and spiritual care. Families and carers can also receive support through our tailored social, spiritual, counselling and bereavement services.
Palliative and end of life care at our In Patient Centre
Our In Patient Centre is open 7 days a week, 365 days a year, providing round-the-clock tailored care. Rated “Outstanding” by the CQC, we’re deeply committed to helping people maintain comfort, dignity and wellbeing as they adjust to illness and treatment.
We care for up to 20 patients in 13 single rooms, 2 three-bedded rooms (bays) and a Family Suite. Each room has air conditioning, a bathroom and a seating area, plus the option for loved ones to stay overnight. Many overlook our gardens, which families can explore together.
The In Patient Centre offers private spaces for patients and families to eat and spend time together, along with a children’s play area and quiet breakout spaces. You might also get a visit from one of our volunteer therapy dogs!
Our bathing service allows patients to enjoy a safe, relaxing spa bath. Our spa room features a jacuzzi bath, hoists for assisted access, mood lighting and music, plus friendly staff on hand to help as much or as little as needed.
In our enablement room, patients work towards personal goals through physical and occupational therapy. We also provide complementary therapy, hair and beauty treatments on the ward to help restore confidence during palliative care.
The Hospitality Team is based on the ward to make sure patients have enough food, drink and anything else they may need throughout the day. From freshly prepared meals to favourite requests, we’ll do everything we can to make it happen.
Clinical care is just one part of what we offer at the hospice. With wellbeing and social prescribing services, including activities, themed evenings, entertainment and more, life on our ward is filled with conversation and connection.
Our family suite
St Luke's Family Suite is a dedicated space designed to support patients and their loved ones as they navigate this most difficult time together. With sleeping facilities, a bathroom, seating area and self-contained kitchen, the suite offers families a place to stay overnight in greater comfort and remain closely involved in their loved one’s care.
While we wish we could provide this space for every family, admission is based on availability at the time.
How it works
After you’re referred to hospice care, your referral will be reviewed at our daily referral meeting. For referrals to the In Patient Centre, our triage team does not routinely contact patients or next of kin at this stage. You will only be contacted if additional information is needed - usually from the referrer - or when a bed becomes available. You’re welcome to visit the Hospice for a tour or to discuss what care might look like for you, with no appointment needed. Visiting hours are 10am – 8pm, but we aim to be flexible where possible.
Being referred to St Luke’s does not always mean death is imminent. Our palliative care specialists focus on helping you live as well as possible with controlled symptoms. As time goes on and your condition changes, we have a unique and privileged position to speak about dying.
Access our carePatients are referred to St Luke’s hospice care at various stages of their illness by a healthcare professional. Some people are referred soon after diagnosis, while others are referred during treatment or as needs change.
People are usually referred because they need:
Expert advice on managing pain and aiming to get symptoms under control during illness and/or treatment
Emotional, psychological, social and spiritual support for you or your loved ones
Help with Advance Care Planning, including what should happen if you become more unwell
When you’re admitted to our In Patient Centre, you’ll be cared for by our specialist medical, nursing, and allied health professional teams with qualified expertise in managing pain and other symptoms associated with life-limiting conditions.
These specialists meet with professional therapists regularly to discuss how St Luke’s can best support each patient. Our doctors will also liaise with external healthcare providers, such as oncology specialists, to ensure continuity of care.
Patients can continue attending external outpatient appointments during their stay at St Luke’s, and transport can be arranged if needed.
Medical consultants
We currently have four consultants and a specialist medical registrar assigned to patients at our In Patient Unit. A sign above each patient’s bed shows which consultant is responsible for their care.
Consultants carry out ward rounds twice a week, talking to patients about how they’re feeling, reviewing medication and considering any changes that may help, usually alongside the nurses and doctors involved in care. Doctors review patients daily.
We recognise the special roles of carers and, with our patients’ permission, we can arrange for them to speak with our medical staff. We can also arrange meetings between our consultants and our patients’ relatives, if that’s what they want.
Doctors
Our consultants are supported by registrars who are training to become consultants along with those who are training to be General Practitioners (GPs), all working under supervision within our Specialist Palliative Care Unit.
Nurses
Our Lead of In Patient Centre leads the unit alongside a Deputy Lead and a sister. Qualified, registered nurses and healthcare assistants provide day-to-day care, bringing specialist training and many years of hospice experience.
Physiotherapists
Our team of physiotherapists assist patients with a range of physical challenges, including mobility, pain, breathlessness and weakness, providing a realistic and appropriate treatment regime to help improve comfort and independence.
Occupational therapists
Our occupational therapists help patients with daily activities that are important to them, providing goal-based support that may include equipment provision, home assessments, fatigue management and creative activities.
Plus, many other assistant health practitioners, our Wellbeing Team, counsellors, social workers, and more.
Many of our patients move between care at home and our In Patient Centre depending on their needs. We aim to keep people comfortable and independent at home for as long as possible.
Some people are admitted to our ward for short-stay care, with a programme of specific goals to achieve in a set time. If their condition stabilises, they can often return home and continue receiving palliative care there.
Others with more complex pain or symptom needs may stay at our Hospice longer, choosing to receive end of life care at the hospice or, if they prefer and it is possible, to return home.
If you’re being cared for at home and your symptoms improve, we may discharge you from our service, with the option to refer you again in the future – whether that’s for care at home or our In Patient Unit.
Our Statement of Compliance to Eliminate Mixed Sex Accommodation can be found here.
Become a patient at St Luke’s
To access our care, you will need a referral from a healthcare professional and a diagnosis of a progressive illness with no known cure. Once you’re under the care of St Luke’s, whether at our In Patient Unit, home or another setting, you can access a range of support and services available to you and those close to you.
Other ways St Luke’s is here for you
St Luke’s care at home
Receive specialist palliative or end of life care at home or as an outpatient from our Community Team – here for you and your loved ones at every stage of illness and treatment.
Eligibility: For patients
Care at homeWellbeing activities
Take part in a range of non-clinical activities to help you and your loved ones stay connected, supported and engaged during this time of change and uncertainty.
Eligibility: For patients, loved ones and carers
Social prescribing servicesAdvance care planning
Get guidance on Advance care planning. Talk through your wishes for end of life care and help those supporting you feel confident they’re following your choices.
Eligibility: For patients
Compassionate Sheffield
FAQs about St Luke’s Hospice In Patient Centre
Our Hospice in Sheffield accommodates up to 20 patients in 13 single rooms, 2 three-bedded rooms, and a dedicated Family Suite. Each room is air-conditioned, featuring a bathroom and seating area, and many rooms overlook our beautiful gardens.
During their stay, patients may use our jacuzzi bathing service and work towards personal goals on our ward or in our enablement room. We also offer wellbeing activities, themed nights and entertainment, hair and beauty treatments, plus visits from our volunteer therapy dogs.
To access our care, you will need a referral from a healthcare professional and a diagnosis of a progressive illness with no known cure. After you’re referred to hospice care, your referral will be reviewed at our daily referral meeting. For referrals to the In Patient Centre, our triage team does not routinely contact patients or next of kin at this stage. You will only be contacted if additional information is needed - usually from the referrer - or when a bed becomes available. Read more about referrals on our Access Clinical Care page.
Not at all. Many patients stay with us for a short period to manage symptoms or work towards specific goals, such as improving mobility with support from our physiotherapy team. If their condition stabilises, they may return home and continue receiving care there.
We discharge patients off the In Patient Centre to support the patient to die at home, if that is their wish.