Gaps in Support for Carers and the Bereaved
Our Purpose: / St Gemma’s Hospice acknowledges the value of life and the importance of dignity in death. We provide and promote the highest quality palliative and end of life care, education and research
Our Values: / Caring - Treating each person with kindness, empathy, compassion and respect
Aspiring - Continually learning and developing; striving for excellence in everything we do
Professional - Delivering high standards through team work, a skilled workforce and good governance
St Gemma’s Services
St Gemma’s provides holistic care for those approaching the end of life, seeking to meet the individual physical, spiritual, emotional, psychological and social needs of patients and supporting their families, carers and loved ones. Care is delivered by a multi-disciplinary team within our 32 inpatient beds, day hospice and in patient’s homes. Care is provided on the basis of need, regardless of diagnosis, age, gender, race, religion, disability and sexual orientation.
Through research and education delivered by our Academic Unit of Palliative Care working in partnership with the University of Leeds, the Hospice seeks to improve the standard of care for all patients and families at the end of life, rather than only those receiving care from St Gemma’s.
St Gemma’s Hospice is a registered charity with 65% of our income from voluntary sources, 30% from the NHS and 5% from other sources. The Hospice employs around 250 staff and is supported by almost 800 volunteers.
St Gemma’s Strategy 2015 - 2018
St Gemma’s strategy takes account not only the needs and wishes of its patients and their families, carers and friends but also the changing economic and social environment, the likely demands for services and the new or changed services which may be needed. Our strategy for 2015 – 18 is consistent with the Leeds End of Life Care Strategy which is supported by providers and commissioners across Leeds. We have considered:
- Forecast increase in number of deaths, together with the complexities associated with an ageing population and the increasing numbers of people living with multiple conditions and dementia, together with increasing demand for care for patients with a non-cancer diagnosis
- Patient preferences for care outside hospital including increased demand for hospice inpatient care amongst the oldest in society
- The need for greater integration of services, more coordinated and responsive services and more care across 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- Gaps in support for carers and the bereaved
- Barriers to talking about death and dying resulting in a lack of effective planning for end of life care
- The need to improve measurement of care outcomes for patients at the end of life and so inform future service developments
- Funding and commissioning challenges
Strategic Goal One: Patients
Deliver high quality, equitable services that meet the palliative and end of life care needs of the people of Leeds and support carers and the bereaved / Strategic Goal Two: Research & Development
Improve care locally, nationally and internationally for those approaching end of life through integrated research, teaching and learning / Strategic Goal Three: People
Build a high performing workforce operating in a culture of engagement, innovation and development / Strategic Goal Four: Operations
Deliver physical environments and support services that are safe, suitable and facilitate effective performance / Strategic Goal Five: Finance & Efficiency
Build voluntary and statutory income for a sustainable organisation funded by a diverse range of income sources delivering services efficiently and effectively
Improve choice and equity of IPU access for specialist palliative care patients / Build a sustainable AUPC infrastructure / Build solid HR foundations / Deliver robust, high quality governance across the organisation / Optimise the income being generated from each current source
Widen access and improve IPU care for patients with non-specialist needs / Communicate and market the work of the AUPC more effectively / Develop a culture which facilitates a committed and engaged workforce / Improve our IT infrastructure to support the functions of the Hospice / Research and develop new streams of income generation for the Hospice
Increase access to St Gemma’s community services / Secure sustained long term funding for research activity / Enable employees to deliver high quality services and results / Improve our information management systems to support Hospice functions / Build effective relationships with commissioners, providers & local community
Enhance coordination of palliative and end of life care across Leeds / Ensure AUPC research is implemented locally, nationally and internationally / Develop a highly capable workforce at all levels of the organisation / Undertake ongoing cyclical maintenance and capital replacement for all assets / Ensure that the Hospice operations are efficient and effective
Improve support to carers pre and post-bereavement / Increase educational activity and capture external funding / Develop and deliver education and training for St Gemma’s Hospice staff / Improve AUPC environment - conducive to learning, up to date and professional / Improve availability and accessibility of financial information across Hospice
Establish AUPC as a leading regional provider of education / Review and develop policy on our ethical & environmental impact / Prepare for funding risks & opportunities including PC Funding Review
Create a culture of enquiry and innovation through evidence champions
Implement nationally agreed outcome measures to improve care
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