CQC welcomes improvements at Prospect Hospice, Swindon

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has welcomed improvements to the quality of services provided by Prospect Hospice in Swindon following a focused inspection in November.
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Inspectors found the provider, Prospect Hospice Limited has made significant improvements in addressing previous concerns identified during previous inspections. 

This has resulted in the conditions previously imposed upon the service now being removed.

Speaking of hospice's successful progress, CQC’s head of inspection for hospitals, Mandy Williams, said: 

“I welcome the improvements that have been made in the quality of care planning, which demonstrates in-depth discussions have taken place with patients and their loved ones to determine their needs and preferences. 

“On previous inspections, there has been concern about staff morale and culture, and the negative impact it would have on patients.  During this visit we spoke to staff who were very positive about the culture and morale of the workforce and welcomed the fact that there are now weekly updates and fortnightly meetings."

However, the CQC's Head of Inspections, added that there was still a need for improvement in some areas suggesting that the provider builds on the good work that had done so far to ensure that patients receive the safe care and treatment they deserve.

The inspection regulator will return in due course to see if these improvements have been made and embedded.

In brief, the inspectors found the following improvements: 

  • Staff morale and the culture of the organisation had significantly improved.  Once a week, staff were invited to share a ‘weekly win’, which was a positive story or achievement. 
  • The processes and systems had improved to ensure good oversight of quality, including patient experience, safety and risk.
  • There were improvements to the planning of care to ensure it was meeting patients’ needs. 
  • Leaders had good understanding of patient risks and gave assurance these were being managed well. 
  • The service had responded quickly to the challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic including a focus on safety.

Full details of the inspection and the report are available here