Step one: Listening to you

During a series of in-depth interviews we have had conversations about the elements of care and support people feel are or would be important to at the end of their lives and as they cope with bereavement.

To gain a full picture of the end-of-life care needs in our community we had conversations with people known and unknown to hospice services. We spoke too:

Those without a hospice care experience: It was important for us to talk to people not connected to the Hospice so we could understand their experiences.

Patients: Those cared for on our in-patient ward and those supported through our Orchard Day Centre, as well as those who have been discharged from the ward and people receiving our care in the community.

Families: The experiences those caring for family and friends are so important, which is why we asked them about their experiences. We spoke to them about what was important to them when they were caring for their loved one, and how they felt supported, emotional, physically and spiritually.

The healthcare community: Our staff and volunteers are at the forefront Hospice services, they were able to identify areas where services we working well and highlight elements they would like to see changed. As an organisation, we are part of a larger healthcare community, which is why we spoke to our partners to ensure the role we play allows this to continue in the best way.