One year on for Hospice Chief Executive 5
Courier
By Hannah Smith
TAKING over the reigns as Chief Executive at Wigan and Leigh Hospice just over a year ago, Dr Alan Baron seemed the perfect candidate for the job, after working there for 12 years.
Starting his working life in the commercial, retail, banking and financial world, Alan was appointed Director of Corporate Service at the Hindley based Hospice in 2001. Working in the hard nosed world of business before taking on this role, Alan experienced a huge culture shock.
He said: “It’s very different working in the Hospice compared with my previous work. I was working in a world where profit was king. I came here and saw the outstanding commitment and dedication of the hospice staff and volunteers, who had one main focus, to provide excellent care. “What surprised me most was how my preconceptions of what I thought a hospice was like were completely different to what a hospice actually is. I had this idea of a hospice being a very dark, foreboding place, but instead I was greeted with smiling faces and a warm, welcoming atmosphere.” Changing people’s perspective of a hospice is one of Dr Baron’s priorities. He encourages local community groups from across the borough to visit, maybe holding one of their meetings there, in order to learn more about what the hospice is and what it does. “We need to get more people through the door so they can see for themselves the friendly atmosphere here. School children have worked with the patients on art projects, we have held garden parties and exhibitions here, to try and show the public what a hospice is really like.” A flagship hospice in the UK, Wigan and Leigh Hospice is well respected within the hospice movement and it isn’t hard to see why. A recent CQC (Care Quality Commission) inspection found the hospice to achieve an excellent rating across all areas. Some of the comments included that the hospice made visitors welcome at all times, staff and volunteers were in attendance at all times to meet people’s needs and this was conducted in a very caring, polite and dignified manner and the atmosphere was pleasant and relaxed.
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The inspectors also commented that the rooms were comfortably furnished, very clean and fully equipped to meet the needs of the people who stayed there, and all the people who spoke to the inspectors said that their was dignity maintained when staff supported them with personal care. The hospice faces some uncertainty in the future. Around 40 per cent of its running costs come from the local Primary Care Trust which is being replaced by a new Clinical Commission Group from next April as part of a m a j o r restructuring of the NHS. However, Alan is confident for the future and feels that existing relationships can be maintained and built upon. Alan said: “We are so fortunate to have such wonderful support from our local community. The majority of our income comes from donations of one form or another from people across the Borough. Often this is because we have cared for a loved one but sometimes it is simply that they wish to support their local hospice. I feel confident to say that people trust us to spend their money wisely on local people who are going through the most difficult time in their lives. Over 90p in every £1 raised goes directly on patient care and support. “Wigan & Leigh Hospice is now in its 30th year. We do recognise that times are hard for everyone but I feel confident that the hospice will certainly be here in another 30 years time.” The hospice is currently trying to secure some capital funding for a state-of-the-art outreach centre to be built within the existing hospice grounds. This new project, with the working title of the Woodland Centre, will house the therapy, counselling and out-patient clinics together with providing a home for our expanding community nursing team including a new Hospice at Home service currently under development. “The new development will have the add-on benefit of freeing some space in the existing hospice that will allow us to consider opening more beds in the future. Planning permission has been applied for and we will find out whether our bid to the Department of Health has been successful in March 2013. We still have to go through a few hurdles before we get there”, said Alan, “but if we are granted the funding and the planning permission this will be a fantastic new facility, which will free up some much needed space and enable us to develop new and responsive services.” Many people think of the hospice only in terms of in-patient beds. In fact the majority of hospice patients
receive some form of care and support in their homes, with a team of nine specialist nurses currently supporting patients across the borough. Developing the community and outreach services is something that Alan is keen to do. He said:”I want to really push our work in the community. Most people wish to be cared for in their home at the end of their lives so our aim is to provide a high quality service in a patient’s home surrounded by familiar things and the people they love. By spreading our reach in this way we are able to support more people.” With the hospice’s 750 voulnteers, hopsice staff rely on the dedication and commitment of the voulnteers and Alan cannot praise them enough, saying: “The volunteers are amazing at what they do. So many people, from all walks of life, are giving their time to help keep the hospice running. We have a diverse range of volunteers from students to people who are retired. This is a unique feature of the hospice bringing a connection between people across our community and making the hospice such a friendly and welcoming place.” So after a busy year in his in role as Chief Executive, Alan has faced many challenges, none greater than the challenge over the coming years as he seeks to ensure the hospice is responsive to the rapidly changing world around us. But one thing is for sure the proud Wiganer who is steering the hospice ship will have the incredible help and support of an invaluable team of staff and volunteers.
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