LOROS The Leicestershire & Rutland Hospice

Updated 5 April 2024

LOROS is a charity whose aim is to enhance the quality of life of patients with cancer, progressive neurological conditions and end-stage organ failure for whom curative treatment is no longer possible. Patients are treated at the hospice and in the community based upon clinical need, regardless of background and the ability to pay. The service provides specialised care for those over 18 years of age.

LOROS specialises in holistic, multidisciplinary care, focused on the whole person and including spiritual needs as well as the patients’ own choices. Family members are supported in adjusting to loss and bereavement. Access to care can be via:

- Short-stay in-patient care for symptom management and end of life care

- Palliative day therapy

- In-patient ward

- Day therapy services

- Out-patient services

- Outreach services

LOROS contributes to the education and training of its own and other health and social care professionals and volunteers. The charity is also committed to research to improve the understanding and practice of palliative care.

The service has been registered with CQC since 31 January 2011, for the regulated activity of treatment of disease, disorder or injury.

The service has a registered manager who has been in place since August 2022.

Our inspection took place on the 10 January 2024. The inspection was unannounced (staff did not know we were coming) to enable us to observe routine activity. We observed care and treatment during our inspection, looked at 3 sets of medicines administration records and 3 sets of patient notes. We spoke with 18 members of clinical and non-clinical staff including members of the executive team. We looked at compliments received by the service as well as patient feedback surveys.

Updated 5 April 2024

Our rating of this location stayed the same. We rated it as good because:

• Staff completed and updated risk assessments for each patient and removed or minimised risks. Risk assessments considered patients whose condition was deteriorating or were in their last days or hours of their life. The service had enough staff with the right qualifications, skills, training and experience to keep patients safe from avoidable harm and to provide the right care and treatment. The service used systems and processes to safely prescribe, administer, record and store medicines. The service managed patient safety incidents well. Managers investigated incidents and shared lessons learned with the whole team and the wider service.
• Staff monitored the effectiveness of care and treatment. They used the findings to make improvements and achieved good outcomes for patients. They followed national guidance to gain patients’ consent and apply the mental capacity act correctly.
• People were truly respected and valued as individuals and empowered as partners in their care, practically and emotionally.
• The service planned and provided care in a way that met the needs of local people and the communities served. It also worked with others in the wider system and local organisations to plan care.
• Leaders had the skills and abilities to run the service. They understood and managed the priorities and issues the service faced and were proactive, embracing change to promote better services. Leaders operated excellent governance processes, and demonstrated commitment to best practice, performance and risk management systems and processes. They identified and escalated relevant risks and issues and identified actions to reduce their impact effectively and in a timely manner. All staff were committed to continually learning and improving services. Staff were actively participating in research and improvement projects.

Updated 5 April 2024

We rated this service as Good because it was rated good for safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led.
See the summary above for details.