Our care is led by our patients’ experience, patients like Tony - and this winter we are planning for 10 virtual beds and 8 Inpatient Unit beds for people in North-West Herts and East Bucks. This balance matches patient needs. Our virtual beds mean we can adapt care much more easily for patients living with frailty and prevent unplanned admissions.
Our referrals this year (28 weeks in) are 27% higher than for the same period last year. This change, from November 1st, is part of our long-term clinical strategy to double the reach of our care whilst providing choice to patients and families. Supporting our financial plans, it means we will spend less over November to March 2023/24 by making the change.
We first took our inpatient care into patient’s homes in 2019 with the launch of our Community Virtual Ward. Since then, we’ve offered five virtual beds alongside our community nursing service. Our Virtual Ward means that even patients with complex medical conditions can choose to stay at home, knowing they will receive the same expert, responsive and holistic care as patients on the Inpatient Unit. It will improve our ability to flex between our services, as a patient’s care requires it.
“It meant everything to Dad and to all of us that he could stay at home right through his illness.”
A bed at the Hospice has always been a choice and that doesn’t change. Eight Hospice beds means we are ensuring the same amount of time (or occupied bed days) people living in North-West Hertfordshire and East Bucks have needed.
We raised £250k to develop IPU during the pandemic, creating the two Studio apartments - we call then Maple. Read Keith’s Story to see the difference this has made.
Now we are doubling the number of ‘virtual bed days’ because more people are choosing this option.
Our 18 hospice beds mean choice. They mean outstanding care. They mean The Hospice of St Francis is there for you, when you need us.
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