Sherborne hospital singled out for national praise once more

Staff working on The Willows unit at Sherborne’s Yeatman Hospital have again been applauded for providing outstanding palliative and end-of-life care.

Two wards on the unit, Beech and Rowan, have been reaccredited by the Gold Standards Framework (GSF) – a national programme to help improve care for people in their final days.

Their efforts to maintain high standards during the pressures of managing COVID-19 earned them the GSF Platinum Award, collected by Beech Ward Sister Denise Willmetts and staff nurse Joanna Horsington at a ceremony in London.

Hospital Matron Ali Low said:

“The Willows originally achieved the GSF Quality Hallmark Award for end-of-life care in 2016 and was reaccredited in 2019, when it was also announced as the winner of the first-ever GSF Hospital Ward of the Year.

“It’s great news we have once again been reaccredited and awarded the GSF Platinum Award for delivering end-of-life care during the pandemic.

“I am very proud of the whole team, which works tirelessly to provide excellent care to patients while also providing vital support to their loved ones at an incredibly difficult time.”

The Yeatman was one of 75 hospitals, care homes, hospices, GP practices, retirement villages and domiciliary care agencies that received the prestigious GSF quality hallmark across the country during the ceremony.

The Gold Standards Framework Centre provides expert training for frontline staff in health and social care, with the aim of ensuring a ‘gold standard’ of care for people nearing the end of life.

Julie Armstrong-Wilson, Lead Nurse for GSF, said:

“The last two years have been an incredibly difficult time for all health and social care providers, and the fact that so many have taken the time to complete their GSF accreditation is to be commended.

“Good quality end-of-life care has never been more important, especially due to the impact of the pandemic we have all faced. Witnessing so many centres signing up to learn more and gain GSF accreditation, so they too can support people at the end of life, is fantastic to see.”

Find out more about the Yeatman Hospital.

Sister Denise Willmetts and Staff Nurse Joanna Horsington from the Yeatman Hospital with the GSF award