- Hospice service
St Helena Hospice
Report from 15 January 2024 assessment
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
St Helena Hospice helps local people facing incurable illness and bereavement in North East Essex. Established in 1985, their purpose is to enable local people with a life limiting incurable illness to live well and die with dignity and choice. They support families, including children, who have a loved one in their care, before and after bereavement through counselling, family support and social work. St Helena also supports adults and children over the age of five in North East Essex facing bereavement, regardless of the cause or place of death of their loved one. They care for patients in their own homes, or at their Myland Hall site in Colchester, which is home to The Hospice and Joan Tomkins Centre. Myland Hall is also the base for the Hospice in the Home community services, including the End of Life hub for North East Essex, which co-ordinates all out of hospital End of Life care. Administrative headquarters are also in Colchester, on the Severalls Industrial Park. They have a chain of 22 shops and donation centres across the region. The assessment commenced on 15 January 2024 and included an unannounced visit to the service by a team of inspectors and specialist advisor on 6 February 2024. We looked at 5 quality statements; Safe Systems, Pathways & Transitions; Safe & Effective Staffing; Monitoring & Improving Outcomes; Care Provision, Integration & Continuity; and Governance & Assurance. Following the assessment, the service has received an overall rating of outstanding.
People's experience of this service
Throughout the assessment, we received positive comments and feedback from people who used the service, relatives, staff and health professionals. All patient's felt safe, well cared for and knew who to contact should they need to. They reported they were involved in the planning of their care and were kept informed of what would happen next. Patients felt staff delivered care that enabled them to remain well and independent physically, emotionally and mentally. They were supported to live as they wished and care was coordinated with staff working to support patient choice. Comments included, "Staff are very approachable", "Staff are phenomenal, they are people of peace", and one patient reported his experience had "surpassed my expectations". Further evidence is referred to throughout this report.