Essex Partnership University hospital ward wins national award for outstanding palliative and end of life care

A ward which cares for people with dementia at Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT) has been awarded a national Gold Standards Framework (GSF) Quality Hallmark Award for its delivery of end of life care.

The award was given as part of the Gold Standards Framework (GSF) Virtual Awards, which recognises health and social care providers delivering quality care in the final year of life.

Tower Ward based in the Landermere Centre in Clacton-on-Sea is one of 59 GP practices, care homes, retirement villages, and hospital wards, which will receive the prestigious GSF quality hallmark across the country during the virtual ceremony.

Tower Ward took part in the GSF training, which included working to support local system partners to improve care together for those in the final year of life. The St Helena Hospice in Colchester supported Tower Ward to embed a gold standard of care for people nearing end of life.

Before the pandemic hit, GSF provided face-to-face workshops, but these have now successfully adapted and moved online to adhere to COVID-19 regulations. The training has been a huge success, and has supported both families and patients to discuss end of life care planning and what matters to them at the end of life.

Annette Knott, Ward Manager, said: “It’s a real honour for Tower Ward to be recognised in this way. We were awaiting GSF accreditation when pandemic hit which has obviously been an incredibly difficult time for everyone in the NHS.

“The challenges faced didn’t stop us striving for the best possible care delivery. So to be assessed during the pandemic and recognised is even more rewarding.”

Julie Armstrong-Wilson, Lead Nurse for GSF said: “Congratulations to all organisations that have successfully achieved accreditation and reaccreditation. The last year has been an incredibly difficult time for all health and social care providers and taking the time to complete their GSF accreditation is to be commended. Good quality end of life care has never been more important, especially due to the impact of the pandemic we have all faced. Witnessing so many centres signing up to learn more and gain GSF accreditation so they too can support people at the end of life is fantastic to see.”

To find out more about the Gold Standards Framework, visit https://www.goldstandardsframework.org.uk/