/Broadening Access to Care: Francis House Children’s Hospice Launches Multilingual Information Guide
– New resource aims to dispel misconceptions about children’s hospices
– Information booklet translated into nine languages
– Over 60 staff members dedicated to supporting families
– Commitment to cultural and individual needs of diverse communities
– Available in hospitals and health care settings across Greater Manchester
Francis House Children’s Hospice has unveiled a new guide designed to assist families in navigating the spectrum of care and support available. Since its establishment in 1991, the hospice has envisioned itself as a “home from home,” providing essential services for children and young people facing life-shortening or life-threatening conditions, as well as support for their families.
Many families harbor the misconception that children’s hospices are solely focused on end-of-life care. This misunderstanding can deter families from seeking the assistance they need, believing a hospice may not be an appropriate environment for their child.
To combat this misconception, Francis House has produced an informative booklet that not only outlines the range of services offered but is also translated into nine different languages. This initiative is aimed at guiding families and healthcare professionals through the support accessible at the hospice.
“We want to spread the word that Francis House supports babies, children, young people and their families throughout their journey, helping them to live life as fully as possible,” said Rachael Taylor, chief executive of Francis House. “For some families, this vital care and support lasts for years, while for others it may be months, weeks or days. We created this publication to share information about what we do and who we can help, to break down the barriers that exist for families accessing our care and support services. From the moment families step through our doors, their fears evaporate, and they see that help is out there for them. While the brochure is aimed at families, we hope healthcare professionals and hospital teams will also find it a useful communication tool.”
In accordance with its Vision and Values, Francis House embraces families from all backgrounds, striving to honor and meet their unique cultural, religious, and spiritual needs. Recognizing that some communities in Greater Manchester may face challenges in accessing information on available support—particularly when language barriers exist—the hospice’s translated leaflets aim to bridge this gap.
Based in Didsbury, South Manchester, Francis House serves hundreds of families across Greater Manchester with a dedicated care team of more than 60 members, who provide support both at the hospice and within the community, including home and hospital visits.
The newly launched brochure and translated leaflets will be distributed across numerous hospitals and healthcare settings, ensuring accessibility for families at the point of referral.
Sharon Doodson, director of care at the hospice, expressed the organization’s commitment to inclusivity: “We know there are children and young people in communities from across Greater Manchester who need our support. We want to take a long-term proactive approach to making Francis House accessible to all who need our care, and to ensure that we are there for those families who need us, for as long as they need us. We hope that providing information in different languages will help more families understand that Francis House is here for them. We want families to feel reassured that we will listen to their individual needs and provide care that respects their cultural, religious and personal wishes.”
For more information and access to the brochure, visit the Francis House website.
