Westminster Memorial Hospital in Shaftesbury has earned national recognition for the exceptional care and support it provides patients nearing the end of life and their families.

It has been awarded Platinum Status by the Gold Standards Framework (GSF) charity, as well as the 2025 Innovation and Best Practice Award from the Community Hospitals Association (CHA,) following a major programme of improvements to its palliative and bereavement services.

GSF is a national organisation committed to helping people live well during their final days and die well in the place and manner of their choosing. During the hospital’s GSF reaccreditation process last year, staff embarked on a range of projects to enhance not only bedside care to patients but also on-going support to grieving loved ones after their death.

These included:

  • refurbishing the hospital’s end-of-life suite, with new furniture and artwork to create a calmer, more homely atmosphere where patients and relatives could spend time together in comfort and privacy. Families were also given access to refreshments at all hours, creating a supportive environment during difficult moments
  • introducing comprehensive information packs for families using the suite, including welcome letters, guidance booklets about the dying process, details of local services, and information about bereavement support. Staff can also tailor resources to each family’s individual needs
  • creating a dedicated bereavement garden centred around a two-metre-high metal memorial tree. Surrounded by benches, greenery and peaceful views, the garden offers a place for families, staff and local people to reflect and remember loved ones. The space has become deeply meaningful for many families, including one who held a wedding there while a relative was receiving palliative care
  • launching a bereavement service, supported by a chaplaincy team and local choir, with gatherings giving families and staff the opportunity to share memories, reflect and celebrate the lives of loved ones who died in the hospital’s care
  • opening the Grief Encounters Café to help tackle the isolation many people experience after bereavement. Hosted in an informal setting, the café allows people to meet others with similar experiences, talk openly about grief or simply listen and access peer support. It also signposts other organisations and services offering bereavement support.

The projects were made possible through fundraising of just over £11,500 from both hospital staff and the local community, with donations and events including bingo nights, skittles evenings, cake sales and bacon butty mornings helping to fund the improvements.

Kate Norris, ward sister at the hospital, said:

“We recognised that while we provided high-quality, compassionate care to patients and families at the bedside, our ongoing support for families following the death of a loved one was limited. Bereavement can be a deeply distressing and isolating experience, yet it is rarely spoken about openly in every-day life. Families often feel unsure about where to turn for ongoing support.

“Our aim was to develop services that allowed families to remain connected with us beyond the point of death, reflecting our commitment to holistic, compassionate and continuous care.

“The enthusiasm and commitment across hospital and in the local community in making this happen were remarkable. It brought everyone together, and the recognition from both the GSF and the CHA reflects the dedication, compassion and innovation of the whole team and confirms the positive impact of its work on patients, families, staff and the wider community.”