Saint Francis Hospice launches new Hospice Response Service thanks to major NHS investment
Saint Francis Hospice has secured more than £1m of funding from NHS North East London to establish a new Hospice Response Service (HRS), helping more people with incurable illnesses receive specialist support at home and reducing avoidable hospital admissions.
The new service will provide a rapid, multidisciplinary response for people whose condition is becoming unstable, enabling specialist teams to intervene earlier, prevent crises and help more people remain at home if that is their wish. Working alongside the hospice's existing community services, the Hospice Response Service will support individuals across Barking and Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge and work closely with local hospitals to facilitate discharge and avoid unnecessary admissions.
The service is expected to begin operating in phases from late autumn, with the full team planned to be in place during the new year, subject to recruitment.
"This investment is a real opportunity for us,” said Grazina Berry, Chief Executive of Saint Francis Hospice.
“It allows Saint Francis Hospice to reach further into our communities, tackle inequalities in access to hospice care, strengthen our relationships with NHS partners and demonstrate the important role our specialist palliative and end of life care can play in helping people remain at home.
"Demand for specialist palliative and end of life care continues to grow. We know that too many people approaching the end of life find themselves in A&E or staying in hospital because specialist help at home has not been available quickly enough. This service gives us a real opportunity to change that."
The Hospice Response Service has been made possible through an investment of £1,021,405 from NHS North East London, with funding currently in place until the end of the 2027/28 financial year.
Charlotte Pomery, chief strategic commissioning officer, NHS North East London said: “We want people approaching the end of their lives to receive compassionate, specialist care in the place that is right for them. This investment will enable Saint Francis Hospice to provide more responsive support in people’s homes, helping individuals and their families get the care they need earlier and avoid unnecessary trips or stays in hospital.
“By working together with Saint Francis Hospice, more people across Barking and Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge will be able to benefit from high-quality palliative and end of life care at home”
The new service builds on the success of the hospice's Enhanced Hospice at Home model and represents a significant expansion of community-based palliative and end of life care.
Many people approaching the end of life would prefer to be cared for in their usual place of care, yet too often a deterioration in their condition can result in an emergency hospital admission. The Hospice Response Service has been designed to address this gap in support, helping people access specialist care more quickly and reducing unnecessary time spent in hospitals.
The service will have its own dedicated multidisciplinary team, including Clinical Nurse Specialists, Healthcare Assistants, and medical support. Once fully established, it will operate from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week.
Saint Francis Hospice has identified a need to widen access to hospice care, particularly in Barking and Dagenham, where referrals are disproportionately low compared with local need. The new service will help tackle inequalities in access to specialist palliative and end-of-life care by reaching people earlier and working more closely with community and NHS partners.
"This funding gives us an important opportunity to show what can be achieved when specialist hospice care is available quickly in the community," Grazina added.
"We will be measuring the impact of the Hospice Response Service closely and hope the benefits for individuals, their loved ones and the wider health system will support continued investment beyond the initial funding period."
