Brian House Children’s Hospice opened in December 1996 to provide a dedicated specialist children’s wing under the umbrella of Trinity Palliative Care Services.

Brian House provides care and a ‘home from home’ environment for children and young adults from within the Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre areas who have life threatening and/or life limiting conditions. They and their families have multiple complex needs and Brian House meets those needs, providing support for the families and care for the children/young adults who will not be cured of their illness.

Respite care, provided at regular intervals, gives the family the opportunity to experience times of relief and normality. To give ‘mum’ a break from the 24-hour demands of the child with multiple complex needs. To give ‘dad’ a chance to see his wife as more than just a nurse and to give brothers and sisters a time to be the centre of attention for a change. These things, that we take for granted, are something special for our patients and their families.

The advantage of having this service locally is that we not only provide respite care but also much needed day care. In the event of a sudden or unexpected emergency, care is available. Support within the family home can also be provided.

Bereavement care can also be accessed via Brian House. A bereavement suite is available to all families in the Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre area on the death of a child, whether previously known to the hospice or not. This service can be accessed via a telephone call to the nurse in charge.

Experienced staff from Brian House also work closely with colleagues from the Counselling and Information Service to organise CASCADE groups [Children and Adolescent Support or Counselling Around a Death Experience] providing specialist support at traumatic times for children and young people.

From its inception, every detail of Brian House has been planned to create a child centred environment, from the layout and design of the wing to the highly trained staff and volunteers caring within it.

‘Home from home’ is the key requirement; the lounge recreates the family environment and atmosphere with the little touches that mean so much.

The spacious fitted kitchen and dining area, where special diets and even the most fastidious tastes can be catered for, confirm that special ‘home from home’ feeling.

Electric beds, TV and sound systems are features in all four bedrooms, together with the ‘twinkling’ fibre optic lights over each bed.

Fibre optics play a major role in the sensory stimulation and relaxation of the children, the fully equipped multisensory room is further confirmation that every need is catered for.

The conservatory doubles up as a music room and small library overlooking the children’s garden. Here the children and young people have the opportunity to access various musical instruments and there is a range of books for all ages and interests.

The recent addition of the craft room and play area has been designed so that children with the most complex needs can be creative and express their natural play instincts with the help of the staff and dedicated volunteers.

The computer room is filled with the very latest computers, games machines and state of the art television and audio equipment to give older children the high tech environment they thrive on.

First floor accommodation with two en-suite bedrooms and lounge offer a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere for parents.

The innovatively designed garden area is a paradise for children of all ages. Alongside more traditional planting, there are a number of features that continue the indoor sensory ideals outdoors.

Brian House exists to provide support for children who require that special care – Palliative Care as it is known - together with their families and friends in an open, honest and sensitive manner.
We are committed to caring within a multi-disciplinary framework, facilitating access to specialist or particular knowledge; recognising that the parents are the primary carers, and involving each child as appropriate.

The support is designed to enable each child and their family to live in comfort, with the dignity, independence and control that is appropriate for them. This will be influenced by age, racial origins, cultures and beliefs.

Brian House provides appropriate care, activity and interest to meet each individual child’s needs in a relaxed warm, homely environment.

We believe each child and their family has a right to be informed of their diagnosis/prognosis, if they so wish, and to all information appropriate to their care. This enables them to make realistic decisions and plan for their future, thus leaving them as free as possible to attain mental and spiritual peace.

We hope this gives an insight into the care and support Brian House is able to offer. Sincere thanks must go to the people of Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre without whose generosity the building and running of Brian House would not be possible.