Frequently Asked Questions

No - many patients are able to return home after a short stay in the Hospice during which time pain and other distressing symptoms are brought under control. Half of the patients admitted to our ward, return home after treatment. These patients may then be re-admitted at a later date should the need arise.

No – all of our services are provided free to adult patients and their families. LOROS is a local charity. It does receive financial assistance from the Department of Health but relies upon voluntary contributions from the people and organisations of Leicestershire and Rutland for over half of its running costs.

Many people nowadays do have private health insurance and these schemes may contribute towards meeting the cost of a patient's treatment in the Hospice. If patients, or their relatives and friends, feel able to make a contribution towards our running costs this is much appreciated.

Yes - it both stimulates and conducts research into ways of improving the quality of hospice care.

Most patients referred to LOROS are in the advanced stages of cancer but LOROS also takes patients with motor neurone disease and other terminal illnesses.

Yes - seminars, lectures and courses are regularly held for nurses, doctors, social workers and for others in the caring professions. The Hospice acts as a specialist resource for professionals and for the wider local community.

A patient is referred for hospice care by either his/her hospital consultant or general practitioner. A member of the LOROS team will liaise with either or both. This will usually be followed by a personal telephone call from the Hospice to the patient and/or his/her relatives.

Whenever possible LOROS endeavours to respond to a referral within 48 hours of the request.

The main aim of LOROS is to provide a high standard of care utilising the best of modern health care practice. As treatments develop they will be added to the care offered in the Hospice.

LOROS will continue to respond to changing needs, always supporting and working as part of the local community which saw the need for LOROS in the first place.

No – LOROS has no specific religious affiliation but spiritual care is an important part of the overall support provided. Our concern is to respect the wishes and needs of patients themselves and of their families of whatever faith or of none. Our chaplains are available to give support to patients and their families and to conduct services at their request.

LOROS has chaplains or volunteer Chaplaincy visitors from most of the major faiths.

The chaplains are also pleased to contact leaders of other Christian denominations or of other faiths as patients or the families wish.

When the charity was first registered in 1977 the letters in LOROS stood for the Leicester Organisation for the Relief Of Suffering. In 1984 the name was changed to the Leicestershire and Rutland Organisation for the Relief of Suffering as the scope was extended to include Leicestershire and Rutland.

Hospice care, sometimes referred to as 'palliative care', is a term which refers to medical, nursing and other ways of relieving the distress of patients with advanced incurable diseases, mainly cancer, and of providing support for the patients' families. At LOROS palliative care includes not only drug treatments, but also physiotherapy, occupational, complementary therapy, counselling, social work, day care, family support and spiritual support.

LOROS Hospice is a local charity and every year we care for over 2,500 people across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. We deliver free, high-quality, compassionate care and support to terminally ill patients, their family and carers. We deliver care that is special and unique to each individual.

The staff at LOROS are specially trained in the control of symptoms, including pain.

They care for the physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of each individual patient and provide support for the family and friends. This care responds to the needs of the whole family and can be provided whether the patient is in the Hospice or at home.