Our Inclusion Agenda

St Elizabeth Hospice is a hospice for all.

We believe that everyone who accesses St Elizabeth Hospice services should receive outstanding care regardless of their age, race, socio-economic situation, gender, nationality, sexuality, disability or beliefs.

Whether you are a patient, family member, staff member, volunteer or supporter, we are actively committed to ensuring we are inclusive and understanding to everyone from all backgrounds.

By building positive strong relationships within our local community, we are helping to improve our services and reduce inequalities for healthcare provision in East Suffolk, Great Yarmouth and Waveney.

We also aim to be a diverse workforce that reflects our local community. We are delighted that we are a Level 2 Disability Confident Employer.

We know we have a long way to go, and we may not always get it right, but we pledge to always make St Elizabeth Hospice a hospice for all.

What we are currently doing

Meeting with local community groups in Ipswich to chat about how to make the hospice more accessible
Arranging open events to the hospice for people representing a range of groups from the local community
Collaborating with our Compassionate Communities project to be more engaged with those with lived experience of end-of-life care or bereavement
Building connections with multi-faith groups
Looking at practical ways to ensure everyone is able to access hospice services – see our access tools section below.
Internally sharing resources and information with staff about inclusion with a dedicated Inclusion Matters campaign
Attending local events in the community

Tools we have to help on access & inclusion

To help improve accessibility to hospice services, we have the following tools in place currently:

Installed Sign Live – providing British Sign Language options for those who are deaf or have a hearing disability so they can understand the care they are receiving.
Implemented Recite Me – an online toolbar with translation options, easy read, audio descriptions to make our website more accessible. Access the toolbar now by hitting ‘Accessibility Tools’ button at the top of the page.
Interpretation and translation services – for helping you understand the care you are receiving
Collaborated with Ipswich Community Media to provide translated visual tours of the hospice in Arabic, Russian, Polish, Turkish, Dari/Farsi, Sri Lankan, Bangla, Portuguese and Romanian.

What is the Recite Me toolbar? SignVideo for OneCall Go to translated video tours playlist Email us if you have feedback Call us: 01473 727776

Hospice Engagement Group

As part of our commitment to co-production, we run a Hospice Engagement Group.

Objectives of the group are:

To enable patients, their families and those with lived experience to have access to hospice co-production opportunities
For co-production to be a core consideration within hospice projects that impact patients and families
To collect and share evidence of co-production activities in the hospice
To provide oversight and advice to the hospice on co-production

Watch the video here with Amy Cant, member of the Hospice Engagement Group, on how we developed the Bright Space Family Room in Ipswich.

Members of the group

Jemma Wood – Head of Volunteering at St Elizabeth Hospice.

Amy Cant – Amy has been connected to the hospice from an early age after her mum received hospice care. Now working in childcare, she connects with children and families alike and has supported the development of the Bright Spaces room at the hospice in Ipswich.
Ann Monks – Ann is a trustee for St Elizabeth Hospice and previously served on the Board of East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices for 9 years. Ann has a personal connection to the hospice as her late husband received compassionate care at the hospice in Ipswich.
Dennis Tattoo – After a 40-year teaching career, Dennis started volunteering at the hospice in September 2017, working on reception. In 2021, Dennis and his wife Sarah established the Walk On group – a free walking bereavement group as part of the LivingGrief service.
Phil Wix – Phil volunteers with the facilities department and Compassionate Communities project at the hospice since 2019. He has had lived experience with support from the hospice when his wife was diagnosed with terminal cancer.
Roberta Lovick – Roberta has worked with Macmillan, Marie Curie and at Addenbrookes Hospital Research Department. She has been heavily involved with the Louise Hamilton Centre for palliative care, which is named after her daughter who died of breast cancer at the age of 28.
Monika Puchala – Monika is originally from Poland and has lived in Ipswich for over 10 years. She currently works as a Maternity Project Coordinator and Information Advice and Guidance Advisor at Ipswich Community Media and Learning. Based on migrants’ experiences, barriers and challenges including Monika’s own experience, she helps to create healthy relationships with professionals and equip both sides with tools increasing understanding of each other.

Contact Hospice Engagement Group

Our Inclusion Agenda

What we are currently doing

Tools we have to help on access & inclusion

Hospice Engagement Group

Members of the group

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