Alan Hudson Day Treatment Centre at Wisbech recognised as ‘Outstanding’ by CQC
The Alan Hudson Day Treatment Centre , which last year supported over 400 patients and their families living with a life-limiting illness or condition, has been recognised as ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
The specialist Day Treatment Centre - an Arthur Rank Hospice Charity service based at North Cambs Hospital - supports people in Wisbech and the Fens who are living with an advanced serious illness or a life-limiting condition.
Services include: Day therapy; treatment and clinical days (including blood transfusions, oncology and symptom management); complementary and diversional therapies; bereavement and support services; a Hospice at Home service giving support to patients and their families in their own homes; a specialist community care service ensuring integrated care; clinical advice and support to palliative patients on the adjacent Trafford Ward.
Sara Robins, director of clinical services at Arthur Rank Hospice Charity said: “We are thrilled and delighted that our Alan Hudson Day Treatment Centre has been recognised as outstanding! I am so proud of the team. The report recognises the amazing work they do and the high standards of care they all deliver.
"The service was inspected by CQC using their new hospice core service framework, with inspectors from the hospital’s acute inspection team. The fact that we achieved an overall rating of ‘Outstanding’ is testament to the values and dedication of all our colleagues who work at the Centre, making every moment count.”
The full report from the inspection of the Day Centre’s Day Therapy service, which took place in January 2020, is available to view on the CQC website.
The report includes recognition that: “Staff treated patients and their families with compassion and kindness, went above and beyond expectations to meet their individual needs and wishes and helped patients live their everyday life to its fullest”.
Inspectors also noted that since their last inspection in July 2017, the substantial redevelopment and expansion work on the centre “had significantly enhanced the environment in order to provide the services on offer”.
The Day Treatment Centre was found to provide “a holistic person centred culture that took all aspects of the patient’s care into consideration when delivering treatment or complementary therapy”, adding that it was “clear that during their time at the day centre, patients and their relatives built strong and caring relationships with the staff and volunteers”.
Comments from patients directly benefitting from the centre’s care included “I couldn’t wish for better treatment”, “the people here are like family” and that the professional approach to treatment was “always delivered in a total caring, loving way”.
The relative of one patient explained to inspectors that the day centre had provided them a “lifeline and the ability to leave their loved one in a safe place where staff knew them well".
Since the inspection took place in January, many of Arthur Rank Hospice Charity’s services, including those at the Alan Hudson Day Treatment Centre have had to adapt in response to the pandemic and government guidelines in relation to COVID-19.
Day therapy at the centre has been closed but the team continue to support these patients on the telephone or through video calls. Treatments are continuing as normal within enhanced infection control measures in place. If required, and in special circumstances, the service has expanded to deliver treatments in patients’ own homes. The centre’s specialist palliative care team continue to support North Cambs Hospital’s Trafford Ward with their end of life and palliative care beds.
Community based services are more in demand than ever. Between February and March, the number of referrals to the Alan Hudson Day Treatment Centre’s community team doubled, as did the number of home visits by the Hospice at Home Fenland Day Service.
The number of home visits by the community team also saw an increase of 20 per cent. An urgent recruitment drive is taking place to appoint healthcare assistants and nurses into the Arthur Rank Community Team, who also deliver essential end of life care in Wisbech, Fenland and East Cambs.
Toni Bird has recently been appointed as fundraising coordinator to help nurture and coordinate fundraising efforts.
Crucial donations and support from the local community, alongside funding from the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn (for services provided for their patients) mean that services are provided free of charge.
If you, your organisation or work place is interested in exploring how you can help support the outstanding care provided by the Alan Hudson Day Treatment Centre please get in touch with Toni on 01945 669620 or toni.bird@arhc.org.uk
Read more: Arthur Rank Hospice issues fundraising SOS!!
