Michael Sobell Hospice Update – Friday 16th August 2019

As you know from previous updates there was a meeting held  on 11^th July attended by the Commissioners of the Hospice Services at Michael Sobell Hospice including East & North Herts Clinical Commissioning Group, Herts Valley CCG, Hillingdon CCG and North West London Collaborative (NWLC) representing Harrow, Brent and Ealing CCGs. The East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust also attended in support. The purpose of the meeting was to confirm the commissioning intentions from all key commissioners regarding services delivered at Michael Sobell Hospice.

The meeting was very positive and progressive in relation to the transfer of Service Provider at the Hospice for the Day Centre, In Patient Unit and 24 hour helpline.

Subsequent to that meeting a Michael Sobell Hospice Completion Group was established which is attended by all the interested parties and now meets weekly to support the smooth transition of the service and support the existing and future patients in the best way possible.

Estates and Facilities of The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust are very much involved in those meetings as the current lease will be transferred. They have also facilitated separate meetings with Michael Sobell Hospice Charity and Harlington Hospice as regards the remedial works necessary for the In Patient Unit to reopen.

All staff at the Day Centre and their Unions are currently being consulted with and meetings are being held regarding their transfer to the new service provider in accordance with Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) regulations.

You can be reassured that every effort is being made by all of the organisations involved to return Michael Sobell Hospice to full service including the In Patient Unit.  

Michael Breen

Chairman of the Board of Trustees