Healthcare regulator praises 'Exceptional' and 'Outstanding' staff and volunteers
North Devon Hospice has been accredited as providing ‘Outstanding’ care by the CQC following their recent inspection. The hospice was also recognised as ‘good’ across the CQC’s other measuring categories, including the provision of safe and effective care, being responsive, and being well-led.
The rating by the independent regulator of health and social care in England, comes at a time when North Devon Hospice is now reaching out to over 2,000 patients families across the area every year who are all facing the impact of a life-limiting illnesses.
Hospice CEO, Stephen Roberts, said “I am delighted that the incredible hard work of our staff and volunteers has been recognised by the CQC, and that they’ve rated our care as ‘Outstanding’. Each and every day, we dedicate ourselves to supporting the individual needs of our patients and their families. We’re immensely proud that this has been formally acknowledged and I’d like to thank our fantastic team for their hard work and dedication.”
Dr Murray Fletcher, Medical Director at the hospice, said that this rating reflected the personalised care offered. “Absolutely everyone here is focussed on providing the very best for our patients and families. Modern hospice care is not just about someone’s final days, it is about living life to the full and giving people the opportunity to live well with their illness. That extends to the whole family too, as we are here to support everyone throughout their whole journey. To have our care rated as ‘Outstanding’ by the CQC simply reflects the love and dedication that we all put into our work.”
The Edwards family, from Braunton, have experienced the hospice’s outstanding care first hand. Mum Michelle, and her three children Ffion, Niamh and Jordan, were supported while their father Iain was battling a brain tumour.
Michelle said: “North Devon Hospice is beyond words. They have become our family, and they helped us through the hardest, most traumatic times in our life. They shared with us the happiest, most fun and most precious times. They showed us how to live through it and we truly lived our life together. They were also able to give Daddy, my lovely husband Iain, the ability to die in peace, knowing that his family was supported and looked after.”
When asked what North Devon Hospice means to her, Ffion (aged 10) said: “Everything. It’s helped us through the really tough times. And it’s never lost contact, they’re just the best.”
Stephen Roberts added: “We are here for one reason, to provide the best possible care during the toughest of times. We will always strive to improve, because with an ageing population and pressures on the NHS, the need for our care will only continue to rise. We can only provide this outstanding care thanks to the local community. We are under immense pressure every year to raise the £4.5 million that we need to run our services. We hope that our local community will continue to support us in any way that they can so that we can continue to be there for our patients and their families”.
For more information on the work of the hospice, visit the care section on our website
