Staff at Alderney Hospital in Poole have been honoured for providing patients with ‘dignity and peace’ in the final stages of life.

Three wards at the hospital have been reaccredited by the national Gold Standards Framework (GSF), earning the Quality Hallmark Award for their outstanding end-of-life care during the Covid-19 pandemic.

As well as Guernsey Ward, which cares for people with physical health issues, Herm and St. Brelades became the first local mental health wards to receive accreditation since 2018 – with St Brelades also scooping the ‘Ward of the Year’ award.
Alderney Hospital was one of 75 hospitals, care homes, hospices, primary care practices, retirement villages and domiciliary care agencies from around the UK to receive the prestigious quality hallmark at the GSF Conference and Awards in London.

From left, Giorgia Costabile (Guernsey Ward), Charlie Patrick (Herm Ward), Cherie Folkard and Caitlin Day (St Brelades Ward).

David Porter, acute mental health inpatient services manager at Dorset HealthCare, said: “This accreditation is fantastic news. It acknowledges our teams’ dedication to giving patients and their families the best possible care and experience, with people living out their final days in dignity and peace, supported by state-of-the-art facilities.
“An additional congratulations goes to St Brelades for winning Ward of the Year – an astonishing achievement which highlights the team’s hard
work and commitment.
“The accreditation and award demonstrate what excellent teams we have at the hospital, and the fantastic care and facilities we provide for our palliative, end-of-life patients and their families.
“The ward teams are a credit to the hospital, and I am extremely proud of them all.”
More information at dorsethealthcare.nhs.uk.