Impact Report 2023/2024
MEETING THE MOMENT:
How your support provided compassionate care, created precious memories, and changed local lives
Trustees:
Sharon Bates (Chair), Zara Svensson (Vice Chair), Rachel Dafforn, Rachel Loosemore, Lisa McCormack, Kevin Underwood, Jennie Willmott, Glenys Gray, Helen Keddie, Mary Brooks (retired December 2023), Rob Withecombe (retired March 2024)
Patron:
The Rt. Hon. The Countess of Arran MBE VLL
Vice Presidents:
John Brend, Geoffrey Cox MP, Gavyn Davies OBE, Sir Nick Harvey, Phillip Jewell, Ron Ley MBE, David Morgan, Mark Parkhouse DL, John Riley, The Hon. John Rous DL, Lady Stucley and David Whiteley.
Dear Supporter,
What a privilege it is to look back on another year of compassionate care delivered to the people of North Devon, all made possible thanks to your incredible support. You’ll read just how meaningful your efforts have been, in helping to change the lives of those facing a life-limiting illness.
We’re dedicated to using every donation in the most effective way possible to provide outstanding care, and there are many innovations in the last year we are particularly proud of:
- We’re the first hospice in the UK to develop a unique tool which enables hospices to establish the appropriate staffing levels per shift based on patient need. In so doing enabling us to be agile in our staffing levels to ensure maximum patient support in the safest way
- Following a recent inspection by the Care Quality Commission, we were delighted that our care was rated as ‘Outstanding’, and that the charity as a whole was rated ‘Good’
- An innovative link with South Western Ambulance Trust. When they’re called to someone’s home who may be approaching the end-of-life, that person can now be admitted to our Bedded Unit or receive rapid response care from our Hospice to Home team. This has already avoided many unnecessary and distressing admissions to hospital
However, as North Devon Hospice enters our 40th anniversary year, we face a number of challenges. The number of people needing hospice care is increasing fast, while the complexity of illnesses is also on the rise, which stretches our care teams to the limit. Your support is needed now more than ever, to make sure local people get the care they need when it matters most. Your life is a story and the ending matters.
Thank you,
Stephen Roberts Chief Executive, North Devon Hospice
YOU MADE THIS HAPPEN!
LIFE IS ABOUT PRECIOUS MOMENTS. SO IS OUR CARE.
THANKS TO YOUR INCREDIBLE SUPPORT, COUNTLESS PEOPLE HAVE HAD THEIR WORLD BRIGHTENED, CREATING THE MOST BEAUTIFUL MEMORIES. YOU HAVE ENSURED THAT PEOPLE COULD BE WRAPPED UP IN OUR CARE, WHEN IT MATTERS THE MOST, AND THAT THE FINAL CHAPTER OF THEIR LIVES HAS BEEN FILLED WITH COMPASSION AND MEANING.
Here’s just a snapshot of the precious moments you made possible this year...
These beautiful alpacas made themselves at home on our Bedded Unit, bringing smiles, cuddles and even kisses to our enraptured patients.
For patient Angela, this moment felt like home. She began to relax when pet therapy dog Daisy arrived while she was missing her own dog, Rufus.
Jenny from our Hospice to Home Team picked fresh raspberries from her garden for patient Bernard’s breakfast, making his day a little brighter.
Families wanting to stay close to their loved ones while they’re at the hospice can do so, thanks to two brand-new beds in our family room. We’re so grateful to Barrow Clark for this generous donation.
A surprise visit from the Hocking’s ice cream van brought delight to patients and families. There was even enough for our nurses to indulge too!
Pet therapy dog, Obie, gave lots of Christmas cuddles to patients on our Bedded Unit, earning himself the nickname ‘Elfin John’ with his fabulously festive glasses!
Laughter, comfort, and joy for patients and loved ones who attended our special Winter Gathering at The Long House in Holsworthy.
Despite a chilly start, Hospice to Home team members Hayley and Lisa weren’t going to let the ice and snow stop them! They were still able to visit patients, to give vital care and comfort.
iWantGreatCare
The care provided by the hospice prompted such incredible feedback, that we were awarded the iWantGreatCare Certificate of Excellence.
We made the news, highlighting how we are caring for more people than ever, and that we need to see an urgent increase in funding to meet this demand.
We gathered on Instow beach for Floating Bye, a beautiful tribute to those we miss. A truly moving moment.
We organised a special 6th birthday tea for Grace, so she could celebrate with mum Sarah, who is facing a life-limiting illness. They enjoyed a selection of yummy treats together.
CARE AT HOME
Most people want to be cared for at home when facing a life-limiting illness like cancer, so our team of 11 Clinical Nurse Specialists provide expert symptom management in the community. Our Hospice to Home team also give hands-on care (throughout the day and even through the night) to help keep patients comfortable at home. Some notable moments from this year include:
- Providing even more rapid response care. When someone’s condition changes, we can be there quickly to make them comfortable and avoid a distressing admission to A&E
- More team members qualified to prescribe, to serve our patients more effectively
- Recruiting more Community Support Volunteers, who spend time with patients, supporting them in their own home
- Eight ‘Duty Volunteers’ provide daily support to patients and the nursing team, helping to field calls into the team
Caring at home is about helping people like Betty make the most of every day. Her illness meant she was unable to play her piano anymore, but Betty longed to hear it played one more time.
A visiting member of the hospice team happened to be a talented pianist and gladly played a tune for Betty. Her eyes closed as she became utterly mesmerised by the music, and her hands lifted as though she was playing the piano herself. It was an unforgettable moment for Betty and her husband.
BEDDED UNIT
This year our Bedded Unit team have gone above and beyond, to care for people with increasingly complex symptoms. They’ve used skill, compassion, experience and determination to bring dignity and comfort when it matters most. Some highlights from the last year include:
- Becoming one of the first hospices to have embedded the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) framework. This enables us to ensure that patients can continue to enjoy food through texture modified foods, no matter what their swallowing problems
- Successful fundraising for a unique Cuddle Bed (a clinical double bed), allowing loved ones to spend quality time together for as long as possible
- A brand new Care Volunteer Programme, for those looking to train in the care sector, giving them vital experience as well as supporting our patients and families too
- Having a team of three amazing therapy dogs. Obie, Lola and Daisy bring sheer delight on their weekly visits
Barbara, 63, was admitted to the Bedded Unit when her cancer pain became severe.
“Our family has been taken care of so well. The team here are just angels, there’s no other way to describe them.”
Barbara’s partner, Pete, said: “Having that support has been immense. It’s given us the strength to go forward.”
BARBARA
SUPPORTIVE CARE
When someone is diagnosed with a life-limiting illness, life for them and their loved ones will never be the same. Our Supportive Care team are here, from that very moment, to wrap patients and families up - holding them for their entire journey and giving them the support they need. Some notable moments from this year include:
- A complete transformation of our programme of events. Sessions are planned specifically to meet the needs of those we are currently supporting, meaning support is agile and responsive
- Creation of new information sessions - often involving outside expertsfrom funeral planning to financial advice and nutrition
- Success of events like our couples’ candlelit dinners, and new gentle yoga sessions
KEVIN
Kevin said his life changed when he began accessing support at The Long House, our outreach centre in Holsworthy.
“When I was diagnosed with a life-limiting respiratory illness, my mood was so low I didn’t want to leave the house.” he said. “But the hospice reached out to me and it’s made a tremendous difference.”
“I’ve had counselling, relaxing massages, and been to the wellbeing groups. It’s amazing. I know I can pick up the phone or walk through the door, and someone will always be there for me.”
EDUCATION
We believe everyone deserves outstanding care in the final chapter of their life, and this means looking beyond our own services. As experts in the field, we provide a range of education and training, to other local healthcare providers who will be involved in the care of patients towards the end-of-life. Our Education team have had a huge impact this year including:
- Educating the highest number of healthcare professionals in five years
- Virtual teaching for the first time ever, with participants from North Devon and across the country
- A newly-funded post to specifically work with care homes, helping them offer the best possible care to their residents who may be nearing the end of their life
Dr Jessica Danielson is a GP at Wooda Surgery in Bideford, and one of many healthcare professionals to have benefitted from the hospice’s training.
“End-of-life care is so important; we only get one chance to get it right.” she said. “I was so impressed with the training at the hospice, they really are the experts.”
“I cannot recommend it highly enough, and thank the hospice team for making such an effort to improve end-of-life care right across North Devon.”
FUNDRAISING & VOLUNTEERING
All our care is given completely free of charge. This is only possible thanks to you, the community of North Devon, who raise funds and volunteer your time to make it all happen.
It costs £6m each year, to support local people through the hardest time in their lives, and we rely on volunteers who gave a staggering 50,233 hours this year to keep the hospice going. Every pound donated and every hour given makes a difference to someone’s life; providing more care, creating more precious moments, bringing more comfort.
Here are some of the amazing things you’ve
Volunteer therapy dogs are a much-loved part of our care team. We even promoted Obie to become Chief Morale Officer!
Aaron Evans, winner of BBC’s The Traitors, went on Celebrity Mastermind and raised £3,000 for the hospice
Our team of volunteer complementary therapists grew, helping more patients and carers to relax and unwind
Audrey Isaac celebrated 30 years volunteering for the hospice, in which time she’s also raised over £120,000 too!
More people than ever are playing our weekly lottery. For just £1 you stand to win the £1,000 jackpot!
Nightwalk. 800 ladies walked the Tarka Trail by moonlight, raising over £90,000
Mission: Unbreakable. You braved our commando challenge and earned the title of ‘Unbreakable’
Our team of volunteer gardeners have surpassed themselves, as our grounds have never looked more beautiful
done this year to support the cause...
CHARITY NEW SHOP
in Torrington
We opened a Our shops help raise
8-year-old Darcy
DARTMOOR
FEARLESS SKYDIVERS
The Barnstaple Hotel held it’s annual
A RECORD
£17,500 took
North Devon Hospice Impact Report 2023/2024
THE IMPACT YOU’VE MADE
more people have been helped with our 24-hour advice line
Over 1,500 new patient referrals received !
136 rapid response visits to provide urgent care at home
1,143 people emotionally supported admissions to hospital avoided, thanks to hospice intervention
How funds are raised: You go the extra mile to support your hospice. You take part in our events, organise your own fundraising and give generously as individuals and volunteers. We have a fab fundraising team who are here to support, 12 shops which raise vital funds, and a successful lottery (thanks to our professional lottery canvassers for your work throughout the year).
Standards in fundraising: We are registered with the Fundraising Regulator and use their Code of Fundraising Practice as a bedrock for all activities, including staff training. During the period 2022/2023, there were no compliance issues with the code of practice.
Supporting those who fundraise for us: Volunteers and third-party fundraisers who help generate funds for the hospice are trained to maintain the standards of the Code of Fundraising Practice. This is monitored by close supervision as well as ‘secret shopper’ visits.
increase in people attending our Holsworthy outreach centre, The Long House
increase visits to people’s homes
437 attendances at hospice training sessions 67% 40% 20% miles covered by our Hospice to Home team 52,000 150
Complaints: Our complaints procedure gives a commitment to listening to our supporters and responding to their feedback appropriately. Complaints can be reported to info@northdevonhospice.org.uk or on 01271 344248. In the year 2022/2023, no formal complaints were received in relation to fundraising activities.
Protecting you: Protecting vulnerable people and other members of the public is our priority. We have appropriate policies and procedures in place which (among other things) respect privacy, prevent persistent approaches, protect against undue pressure to give, and explain how vulnerable people can be offered extra protection. All those fundraising on our behalf are trained and refreshed on these policies and procedures annually, while also being monitored regularly to ensure supporters are treated fairly and with respect, that the cause is explained accurately, and that we are sensitive to those who may be vulnerable.
Registered charity no.286554