Town's hospice rated outstanding after inspection

The Care Quality Commission said Rotherham Hospice should be "very proud"

Rotherham Hospice has been rated outstanding by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The hospice, run by local charity The Rotherham Hospice Trust, provides end-of-life care to adults aged 18 and over with terminal illnesses and support to their families, at no cost.

Following an inspection in December, its overall rating has improved from good to outstanding.

Alan Stephenson, CQC deputy director of operations in the north, said: "All the staff at Rotherham Hospice should be very proud of the care they're now delivering for people using the service and their local community."

'Positive outcomes'

Inspectors found that local census data was used by the hospice to tailor care to patients from different communities, including those from vulnerable backgrounds, and provided a range of support - including psychological, physical, social, and even spiritual support.

"It was impressive to see the lengths they went to, to ensure care was personalised at a really difficult time in people's lives," said Mr Stephenson.

"It was clear that staff took a genuine interest in people's wellbeing, which resulted in both positive outcomes and feedback."

The report said patients were included in discussions about their own care when assessing and reviewing risks, so everybody understood what was involved, and care plans were agreed for the last days of their life.

It also noted that a kennel service had been introduced, which helped reduce delays when admitting people with pets into the service.

A former issue was flagged that some people did not know how to access the service, but a community outreach manager had since been employed to mediate this, it said.

Concerns around appropriate levels of safeguarding training had also been addressed.

'Ambitious plans'

Rotherham Hospice CEO Mat Cottle-Shaw said: "It's incredible - or outstanding, should I say - for all our staff, volunteers, and supporters."

He said he was "struck by how passionate everybody was" and the effort that had been made to reach the top rating by the CQC.

The hospice had "very ambitious plans to grow" across Rotherham, he added, but patients and their families were "at the centre" of all the decisions that were made.

"The end of your life should be just as important as the beginning of it," he said.

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