New partnership for hospice care

Trustees of the two charities voted unanimously to go ahead with the integration of their clinical teams including, home nursing, family support, education and complementary therapy services. The two organisations, however, are not merging, but will continue to employ their own staff and recruit their own volunteers. It is planned that the integration will be complete by the end of June.

Mark continues, "This move builds on the past three years of partnership working with IRHH, which has seen the successful launch of twenty four hour Hospice at Home nursing care in part of the St Albans and Harpenden area."

In simple terms the move means that all clinical and nursing services will come under a single Director of Patient Services, Sue Varvel, who will be supported by two Deputy Directors, one responsible for Clinical Services and the other for Hospice at Home.

Sue Varvel said, "Working as one team will enable us to strengthen our clinical management, increase our effectiveness and avoid duplication. There will also be more development opportunities for staff."

"We know that our Hospice at Home service, offering 24 hour care every day of the year, is greatly valued by our patients and their families. We want to bring that personal and specialist advice to as many people as we can. We still need more funding to extend Hospice at Home to the whole of St Albans and Harpenden district."