On 4 July 2022, the Michael Sobell Hospice had its first Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection since it reopened in January 2020. Since its reopening, Harlington Hospice have been running the clinical palliative and end-of-life services at the Michael Sobell Hospice inpatient unit in Northwood. The Care Quality Commission are a regulatory body in the UK for health and social care providers. They carry out routine inspections of all services they regulate in order to work with care providers to ensure people are looked after in the best way possible.
Today, the Michael Sobell Hospice received the rating ‘Good’ in the following areas of inspection: ‘Are our services caring?’, ‘Are our services effective?’ and ‘Are our services responsive to people’s needs?’. The hospice received the rating ‘Requires Improvement’ to the areas ‘Are our services well-led?’ and ‘Are our services safe?’. Overall, the Michael Sobell Hospice has received the rating of ‘Requires Improvement.’
Steve Curry, Joint CEO of Harlington Hospice and the Michael Sobell Hospice has said, “At the Michael Sobell Hospice, our sole purpose is to support the physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing of people on their journey to the end of life, and their family and friends. I am humbled by the trust people place in us at what, for many, is the most difficult period in their lives. I accept that the news of this current CQC rating is not what we wanted in all areas of our work.
“We are taking the feedback we have received from the CQC very seriously. The report has shown me that whilst we are getting it right in many areas of our service, we still had areas that we needed to make changes. Since the inspection, the whole team has pulled together to improve in the areas the CQC identified. We have updated the CQC on our progress in line with their inspection process and welcome their next inspection.
“The Michael Sobell Hospice has been a bedrock for those facing life-limiting illness in our community for over 45 years. We know from regular feedback that patients and families experience a kind, compassionate, and dignified service when they come to stay with us, something that our CQC inspectors also witnessed. Our team provides support that takes into account each individual’s needs and I know that the Hospice is a lifeline to those who need us. That is why it is so important that we learn from the CQC’s feedback, to ensure all those who stay at the Hospice are given the best possible care and support.”
Read the full CQC report of the Michael Sobell Hospice from October 2022.
