Newport hospice to be taken over by Gwent care provider (From South Wales Argus)

St Anne’s Hospice to be taken over by St David’s Hospice Care

9:41am Thursday 7th March 2013 in News

SERVICES provided by Newport’s St Anne’s Hospice will be taken over by St David’s Hospice Care later this year.

The trustees of St Anne’s Hospice have agreed in principle to transfer in-patient services currently provided at the hospice – in the grounds of St Joseph’s Hospital.

St Anne’s is owned by the Sisters of St Joseph, who in the early 1990s decided to create the hospice in part of the private hospital, and the existing hospice building was opened in 1994.

“Given our dwindling personnel resources as a religious order we believe this is the optimum time to transfer the services and to combine the resources of the two organisations,” said Sister Benedicta, chairman of the trustees of St Anne’s Hospice.

“Following discussion with all stakeholders, including the Aneurin Bevan Health Board and the All Wales Palliative Care Implementation Board, the recommendation was made to approach St David’s Hospice Care in order to ensure seamless palliative care for the people of Gwent and the surrounding area.

“St David’s, which already undertakes domiciliary and day care, has the necessary expertise and resources to continue to develop the in-patient services currently provided in St Anne’s.

“We are sad to have to withdraw from St Anne’s but the hospice cannot continue as a stand-alone service and we are confident that integrating with St David’s will ensure a legacy of excellent palliative care for those we serve.”

St David’s Hospice Care was set up more than 30 years ago, has developed into the UK’s largest provider of hospice-at-home care, caring for more than 2,600 patients and families a year.

Its chief executive, Emma Saysell, said its board fully supports the transfer.

“We would like to thank the Sisters of St Joseph for the huge contribution they have made to palliative care in Gwent since St Anne’s Hospice was opened,” she said.

“We recognise, as they do, that in order to continue their wonderful work the future for patients and families will be best served with one hospice service.

“We look forward to providing a specialist inpatient unit alongside our specialist community and hospice-at-home service.”