At the heart of our community St. Gemma s Hospice Strategy 2011 2016
Mission Statement St. Gemma s provides compassionate and skilled specialist palliative care of the highest quality, both in the Hospice and in the Community. We recognise each person s need for respect, dignity and independence as we care for adult patients, from all backgrounds, with active, progressive, advanced illnesses, and provide continuing support for their families and carers. St. Gemma s Hospice Strategy 2011-16
The realities behind our Mission St. Gemma s Hospice cares for adults facing the end of their lives and their families. We o ffer : Palliative care by specialist doctors and nurses Physiotherapy and occupational therapy Spiritual, psychological and social care Complementary therapies, beauty, art and music therapies Bereavement services for adults and children Education and training 1
Our plans and how we communicate them Our strategy for 2011-16 outlines what St. Gemma s Hospice hopes to achieve during the next five years. This strategy is a summary of the general direction of the Hospice s work and is supported each year by a detailed business plan. This annual business plan makes the strategy a reality. Each year we produce an annual review which updates you about the progress we are making towards achieving our strategic aims. It also includes information about the Hospice s financial situation. When we talk about St. Gemma s Hospice in this strategy we don t just mean the building in Moortown. The 32 In-Patient beds, Day Hospice and Out-Patients department in the Hospice building are just part of our overall work across the community. St. Gemma s supports patients, families and carers in their own homes and in care homes. 2 St. Gemma s Hospice Strategy 2011-16
Palliative care is an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problem associated with life-threatening illness, through the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification and impeccable assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, physical, psychosocial and spiritual. World Health Organization (WHO) definition of Palliative Care 2002 3
The world around us Throughout the history of the Hospice the world around us has changed and evolved. St. Gemma s has responded to this and will continue to do so, in a patient centred way. St. Gemma s Hospice is part of an increasingly complicated and regulated health and social care environment. The Department of Health launched the End of Life Care Strategy in 2008 in a bid to ensure that everyone receives high quality care at the end of their lives. Whilst St. Gemma s is independent of the NHS this initiative has been influential in determining how we provide care to our patients and how we work in partnership with local, regional and national groups. We keep our plans under review in order to respond effectively to the many changes we expect to see in our external environment. The changing needs of our patients, shifts in government policy and the economic climate, and the changing relationships between health and social care are just some of the things that we will consider as we develop our services over the next five years. The population that the Hospice serves is very diverse and we seek to respond to the needs of each individual in a way that suits them best. St. Gemma s is proud to welcome patients from all backgrounds and religious beliefs, providing care completely free of charge. The Hospice rarely provides care in isolation and links with GPs, district nurses, hospital teams, social care providers, community and hospital therapists and voluntary sector organisations in order to ensure that patients receive the best, most appropriate care for their needs. We currently receive around a third of our running costs in the form of a grant from NHS Leeds. How much we will receive and how this will be determined is under review by the government and so the continuing support of the local community, which we serve, is more crucial than ever. 4 St. Gemma s Hospice Strategy 2011-16
Our Seven Strategic Priority Areas Patient care Carers and the bereaved Patient choice Education and research Our Hospice Promoting our services Non cancer provision 5
Patient care We strive to provide excellence in patient care We w ill : Review and develop the provision of psychological, social and spiritual care. Conclude the current review of Day Services and implement the agreed recommendations. Integrate Day Services and the Hospice community team. Strengthen how we communicate amongst ourselves and how we co-ordinate the work of the different services we provide. Seek and implement innovative IT and information system solutions to improve patient care. Constantly strive to improve our services. 6 St. Gemma s Hospice Strategy 2011-16
Carers and the bereaved Supporting the patient s family and friends both before and after their loved one s death is at the very core of what differentiates Hospice care. We will : Review and strengthen the Hospice s role in supporting carers. Influence the development of bereavement services across Leeds in order to enhance their quality. 7
Patient choice Our aim is to help patients achieve what is most important to them at the end of their lives. We w ill : Work with other health and social care providers to offer services that reflect patients needs and choices. Work in partnership with patients, empowering them to make informed decisions. Explore the provision of a more comprehensive seven day a week service both in the Hospice and in the community. 8 St. Gemma s Hospice Strategy 2011-16
Non cancer provision We cannot care for all dying people in our community but we aim to establish where the specialist skills that the Hospice has to offer can make a real impact on the lives of individuals with long term chronic conditions, as they reach the end of their lives. We will: Explore further the need for specialist palliative care services for patients with conditions other than cancer. Develop specific services, as appropriate, for these patients if needs are identified. 9
Education and research By combining education and research with high quality clinical services, St. Gemma s aims to provide the best possible experience for patients at the end of life and their families. We will : In partnership with the University of Leeds, create a Clinical Research Centre based at St. Gemma s serving the city of Leeds and beyond. Review and strengthen the education and training provided by the Hospice. Develop improved ways of measuring our performance in both clinical and non clinical areas. 10 St. Gemma s Hospice Strategy 2011-16
Our Hospice Our most important resource in fulfilling our mission and delivering our plans for the future is the Hospice s staff and volunteers. We will : Re-focus on our unique ethos, values and culture whilst also engaging with external ethical debate. Continue to value the needs of our staff and volunteers and respond as appropriate. Strengthen the Hospice s level of community engagement through the use of innovative volunteering schemes. Continue to improve the physical environment of the Hospice for patients, their families and friends and for staff. Become a more environmentally friendly organisation. 11
Promoting our services As St. Gemma s touches the lives of so many people, it is in an exceptional position to be able to dispel some of the fears and myths around death and dying. We w ill : Improve the way we promote our services to referrers, patients, carers and the general public but in particular to groups which traditionally do not access the Hospice s services. Continue to raise enough funds to sustain our current services and finance new developments. Continue to spend our funds wisely and in a patient-centred way. 12 St. Gemma s Hospice Strategy 2011-16
The work of St. Gemma s Hospice continues day and night as it has since its foundation in 1978. The strategic aims for 2011-16 highlighted here are in addition to the ongoing caring work which remains at the heart of St. Gemma s Hospice. What we hope to achieve over the next five years is, as always, dependent on raising the necessary funds. St. Gemma s can only achieve its aims if it is supported by the community which it serves. If you would like to make a contribution towards continuing and developing the work of St. Gemma s Hospice then please visit our website www.st-gemma.co.uk or phone the Fundraising Department on 0113 218 5555. 13
St. Gemma s Hospice 329 Harrogate Road Moortown Leeds LS17 6QD Hospice 0113 218 5500 Fundraising 0113 218 5555 postmaster@st-gemma.co.uk Registered Charity No. 1015941 Company No. 2773867 If you want more information about the work of St. Gemma s Hospice then please visit our website : www.st-gemma.co.uk