Berwick Partners’ Hospice Leadership Dinner: The road to renewal

Berwick Partners were delighted to host a face-to-face Leadership dinner at the Hospice UK National Conference in Liverpool. The dinner was attended by Hospice CEOs and Directors who were catching up for the first time since the pandemic.

We were joined by CEOs of hospices stretching from Newcastle to Kent and some were meeting for the first time ever.

It was a great opportunity for colleagues to network but also to share their thoughts and experiences on key topics such as their strategies for recovery and renewal, as well as ensuring they remain prepared for future challenges well beyond the crisis.

Luen Thompson, Chief Executive of Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice, shared with us her experience of the West Yorkshire Hospice Collaborative and their role in the Integrated Care System (ICS). West Yorkshire and Harrogate hospices contribute a considerable level of resource, expertise, and value to the system across the ICS footprint. Partnership hospices in the region employ over 1,800 staff and between them support over 20,000 patients and carers every year. It was really interesting to hear how hospices are using their influence, experience, and expertise to improve palliative and end of life care services for everyone in the area.

Guests spoke about the positive impacts of recent times and the strengthening of their relationships with the NHS during the pandemic. Hospices have worked more closely with their colleagues in statutory services and have proven their importance to the local health and social care economy during the pandemic. Their NHS colleagues have come to understand so much more about the contribution hospices make and the added value they bring to deliver significant outcomes.

What was evident during the evening was that it is possible for hospices to be independent organisations, but still integrated with those inside the NHS. Most importantly, this integrated working has been to the ultimate benefit of patients and service users. Hospices’ independence is part of their strength as it allows them to be innovative and responsive to specialist local needs. They are very rooted in the communities they serve and during the Covid-19 pandemic they have really evidenced how agile they can be in supporting individuals, families, and the wider system.

The evening was about great conversations that let hospice colleagues connect, share, and learn from each other.

For more information, please contact Sandra Hamovic, Principal Consultant in the Not for Profit practice at Berwick Partners.