Chairman’s Statement

The year 2020/21 has been a year like no other.

A year dominated by our collective response to Covid-19. The onset of the first national lockdown in March last year saw the whole UK face a unique and unprecedented situation. It’s been a privilege to witness how St Columba’s Hospice Care has evolved and adapted its ways of working to accommodate the impact of a global pandemic, and I would like to start by thanking everyone at St Columba’s for their incredible efforts.

With our charity shops closed and our fundraising events cancelled, we experienced a sudden and dramatic loss of income. Our committed army of volunteers were temporarily stood down as the Hospice focused on its core services, staff moved to home working where appropriate and all necessary precautions were taken to ensure the safety of our patients. Our senior management team met daily to assess new guidance, consider risks, review our provision and make timely decisions on next steps. Despite challenges, the team ensured that care remained a priority and in addition to providing the vital services and support that is essential to our patients and families, we are proud to have been able to maintain family visits on our wards throughout the height of the crisis.

Our three-year strategic plan,“Adapting to a Changing World”, is about responding to the diverse needs of our community

The Hospice’s new three-year strategic plan,“Adapting to a Changing World”, is about responding to the diverse needs of our community and was developed following a programme of board, workforce and stakeholder engagement in 2019 and 2020. Its launch coincided with the onset of the crisis and the significant involvement of our teams in planning the new strategy meant they were prepared and ready for change, enabling the Hospice to move at a much faster pace when the pandemic arrived.

We’re already able to report an increase in the number of ways people are accessing our services out-with the Hospice. For example, our newly structured Community Hospice Team saw a 25% increase in referrals throughout the year and many more people were supported at the end of life in their own homes – a clear indication that we continue to move in the right direction.

Our Community Hospice Team saw a 25% increase in referrals throughout the year

In common with most charities, we suffered a significant loss of income during the pandemic and were very grateful to receive government grants and other donations to help us through. We are also fortunate to hold reserves which have recovered well following the impact of Covid-19, allowing us not only to weather the storm but also to plan our future services in accordance with our strategic plan.

The values that underpin our professional care have never been more important than at the present time. We will never be complacent and will continue to listen to the people we care for, and to staff who are responsible for that care, so we can continually improve. We remain confident that Trust, Care and Compassion, Partnership and Respect, reflect the values we aspire to each and every day.

We’ve embraced exciting opportunities to better our service provision as we prepare for what many are referring to as the ‘new normal’

Our primary goal will always be to continue reaching those who need us most. We’ve taken remarkable learnings from the lockdown period, during which time we integrated digital technology in new ways, consolidating its role as a key part in maintaining continuous care for our patients. We’ve embraced exciting opportunities to better our service provision even further and as we prepare for what many are referring to as the ‘new normal’, we do so with determination and ambition. We’ll continue to harness our innovation and learning, our knowledge and expertise, to deliver positive, long-term impact and ultimately achieve better outcomes for the patients and families we support.

As ever, we are humbled and truly grateful for the ongoing support from our local community and beyond. Sincere thanks goes to everyone who supports the Hospice in any way; it’s because of you that we’re able to look forward and continue to provide vital care to patients and families who need it most.

David Dunsire,
Chair of the Board of Governors

"I am proud to be part of the team that is driving the Hospice forward and I really enjoy working with the wonderful staff and volunteers who make such a difference to patients and their families at difficult times in their lives."