Partnership Group

The Hospice understands that it is important for those receiving care to have their say, whether they are a patient, carer or a family member. By listening to you and representing your views, the Hospice can continue to deliver the very highest standards of care and support, and make everyone using Hospice services to feel comfortable, safe and valued as individuals.

With these thoughts in mind, the St Elizabeth Hospice Partnership Group was established in Spring 2005. The group's aims are simple:

  • To open communication in order to be more sensitive and responsive to the needs and preferences of Hospice service users.
  • To give an opportunity for Hospice users and professionals to highlight issues for discussion.
  • To run an open Forum which will hear your views confidentially.
  • To participate in reviews of existing services and the planning of future services.
  • To ensure that the views of Hospice users are presented to the Hospice Senior Management Team.

The committee is made up of patients, carers and professionals from the Hospice. The group is made more successful because it includes professionals from the Hospice who are able to give advice, guidance and access to colleagues and information which can support our aims.

There are 12 people on the committee and which meets every month to address issues and to follow up on Action Plans.

The group have links with the Cancer User Group at Ipswich Hospital, as well as regional and national networks such as: The Anglian Cancer Network; The specialist Palliative Care and End of Life Strategy Group; other Hospices in area; other public groups and organisations; and Suffolk Primary Care Trust & Successors.

What the partnership group has done in the last six years

  • Produced a leaflet for patients, carers, health centres, fundraisers and the public, to explain the services the Hospice provides.
  • Placed a notice board in the Hospice entrance to make people aware of who we are and what we do.
  • Produced a visitors information leaflet, a copy of which can be downloaded here.
  • Reviewed “out of hours” pain control with the Hospice, Hospice at Home Service and GP’s
  • Although the Hospice is strictly a non-smoking area, it was felt that patients in the Hospice who smoke need to be catered for so a new summer house has been built solely for their use along with the smoking room at the end of the new Inpatient Unit
  • Following a suggestion by us a DVD has been produced to explain the ethos of the Hospice and the many services that it provides, copies of the DVD have been circulated to GP’s, Health Centres,Libraries, The Cancer Information Centre, Ipswich Hospital and other interested agencies.

Continuing and future projects

  • Look into developing a new support link for people who have recently been bereaved
  • Organise an information day for groups across the Anglia region
  • Compile an information file for visitors who do not live in the Ipswich area
  • Development of services to the Waveney and Great Yarmouth Area.
  • Active involvement with aspects of the renovation and furnishing of the new In-Patient Unit

Are you a Patient, Carer or family member? Do you have something to say about your experiences?
Come and chat to one of the team or perhaps you would like to join our committee.
To make contact please speak to: Mrs Tracey Cory at the Hospice on 01473 707036 or email tracey.cory@stelizabethhospice.org.uk

For further details about the work of the Partnership Group, please do not hesitate to email Chairman Ian Ewers-Larose (UserGroupChair@stelizabethhospice.org.uk) or contact the Hospice on 01473 727776 or email enquiries@stelizabethhospice.org.uk