Care Quality Commission rates Thames Hospice as 'outstanding'

Charity is one of just a handful of hospices to have been awarded highest possible accolade

Staff and volunteers at Thames Hospice have much to celebrate after receiving an ‘outstanding’ rating from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) – the independent regulator of health and social care services in England – following a recent inspection at the charity’s state-of-the-art facility by Bray Lake.

Under the new CQC inspection regime, hospices are subjected to the same level of scrutiny as hospitals, making this ‘outstanding’ rating incredibly special. The CQC found that Thames Hospice is outstanding in responding to people’s needs, treating families with dignity, kindness and respect and being well-led.

Local residents should be proud and feel very reassured that their hospice is now rated as one of the best in the country. In the last month alone, of 548 health and care establishments that were inspected, only seven were rated outstanding.

Debbie Raven, Chief Executive Officer, said: “I have always known that our care and teams were outstanding, but in the last 20 months we have really proven our commitment to the community we serve in the most challenging of times.

“Thames Hospice never shies away from taking on tough and difficult roles to help our NHS colleagues, like increasing our care at home provision and supporting patients with Covid-19 on our Inpatient Unit. We have continually adapted our services during the pandemic and managed to move to our new hospice right in the middle of it! Whether it’s changing our registration to admit 16-18 year olds or taking patients from further afield, we will do what it takes, so that our community always feels safe and supported.

“I am delighted on behalf of our amazing team that the quality of care we provide has been recognised. To our community, I say you can count on us, and to our healthcare colleagues, I say come and work with and alongside us and help us to continue our outstanding care!”

Thames Hospice Chair of Trustees, Jonathan Jones, added: “As we built our new Hospice, the Board was very aware that we would need to step up once we moved and we are so proud that this is exactly what our teams have done. Being an outstanding hospice reflects our mission to provide excellent choice, care and comfort to people facing life-limiting illnesses in the community we serve.

“As an outstanding hospice, we can be the centre of excellence locally and nationally that drives forward care for people with a terminal illness.”

Simon Miller is a local resident to have benefited from counselling and bereavement support at the Hospice, following the sudden death of his life partner Kevin. Simon cites our outstanding care: “Thames Hospice came into my life when I was at my lowest and though I still miss Kevin so much, I now have some tools to help cope with all that losing Kevin has brought”.

Debbie Raven said: “There is now no doubt that the nurses, doctors, counsellors and the whole team at Thames Hospice have ‘got what it takes’ when it comes to giving their all for local families facing a terminal illness.”