- Hospice service
Butterwick Hospice Stockton
Report from 17 April 2024 assessment
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
Butterwick Hospice is a purpose-built hospice located in Stockton on Tees, operated by Butterwick Limited. The service provides end of life care for adult patients living in the Stockton Borough Council geographical area. It is registered as a charitable trust and receives additional funding from the NHS. The hospice is fully accessible and has appropriate facilities for a maximum of 8 inpatients at any one time. Facilities comprise of 6 single rooms with ensuite bathrooms and 2 single rooms sharing 2 bathrooms. The site is in its own landscaped grounds, adjacent to the local NHS trust, with its own car park and is well sign posted. The hospice provides adult hospice services that includes palliative and neurological day-care, family support services and a home visiting service for palliative care and end of life patients. During our last inspection we rated the service as inadequate and we placed conditions on their registration. During this assessment we looked at quality statements across 4 key questions. We found the service had made significant improvements, since our last inspection. For example, they now ensured systems were in place to assess, monitor and mitigate the risks relating to the health, safety and welfare of service users. Improvement in overall governance was noted, including ratified policies and procedures, referenced to current best practice guidance. The service had clearly defined admission criteria. We saw effective partnership working with the local NHS trust, with formal service level agreements now in place. We saw that patients felt supported by staff and involved them in their care and treatment. Managers supported staff and appropriate processes were in place to ensure they had oversight of the service. We rated this service as good overall.
People's experience of this service
We saw evidence that patients felt safe, and that staff were attentive, welcoming and supportive. Feedback from patients and carers was that there were enough competent and confident staff in the service to support them with their day-to-day activities and they were treated with dignity and respect. Staff were visible and available to them on the ward and patients found them to be helpful and approachable. Patients were supported to be as independent as possible, having choice and control around their care and treatment. Staff ensured patient care and treatment was delivered to meet individual need. Patients were involved in regularly monitoring their health, including health assessments and checks where appropriate and necessary with health and care professionals. We saw evidence of regular interaction with patients and their families to ensure patients were fully involved in their care planning and delivery. Patients felt listened to and were encouraged to feedback on their experience of care within the service. Patients felt that everyone involved in their care worked well together. Information regarding patient care, treatment and sources of support were available and displayed around the ward.