We’re thrilled to share the news that we have received an overall rating of ‘good’ from the Care Quality Commission, following an inspection in March of this year. We provide expert and compassionate care to local adults living with terminal illness, as well as support for their family and friends, through a range of services. CQC inspections take place to ensure services meet fundamental standards of quality and safety. The inspection framework for hospices has recently changed requiring hospices to meet the same standards as hospitals; this means more rigorous criteria must be met to achieve the highest ratings.
In early March, the inspection team spent a day at the hospice site observing clinical practice, as well as speaking to our staff, volunteers including trustees, and service users about their experiences. They were particularly impressed by the hospice’s standard of personalised care, commenting on the compassion, kindness, respect and dignity our nurses and wider team show to people staying on the inpatient ward, as well as the high value placed on meeting people’s emotional and social needs. The report also comments on our effective infection prevention measures, positive leadership, cleanliness and well-maintained gardens and woodland.
Barbara Williams, our Chief Executive, said: ‘We are absolutely thrilled to have been rated as ‘good’ by the Care Quality Commission. The hospice is a very special place, and we pride ourselves on delivering excellent, person-centred care to those who need us. I’m really pleased to see that this has been recognised in the report.
‘The inspection took place just as the Covid-19 emergency was evolving, which meant we were not given as much of an opportunity as we may have liked to talk and share our evidence. Despite this, we still made a great impression, which is testimony to the dedication and passion of our staff and volunteers, as well as our amazingly supportive local community, who continue to give generously to enable us to do what we do.
‘After a particularly challenging few months, this is a great boost for all of us. As we move forward, we will continue to develop and improve our expert services.’
The report can be read in full at: cqc.org.uk, by searching St Peter & St James Hospice.
