Lincolnshire East CCG Announces Palliative Inpatient Care Contract Award

NHS Lincolnshire East Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has been exploring options for additional inpatient palliative care in the east of Lincolnshire.

Following a detailed and comprehensive analysis of local need, Lincolnshire East CCG invited providers to bid for the provision of six inpatient beds.

Lincolnshire East CCG is pleased to announce this process has concluded and the chosen provider is Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust in partnership with the Butterfly Hospice Trust.

Andy Rix, General Manager, Boston Locality for Lincolnshire East CCG, said: “We are delighted to have concluded a detailed procurement process that has challenged providers to be innovative in how they will deliver the best care for patients requiring inpatient palliative care. This means that there will be local provision of palliative inpatient beds for patients in the east of Lincolnshire, based in the Butterfly Hospice’s new Inpatient Unit in Boston. We look forward to working with Lincolnshire Community Health Services and the Butterfly Hospice Trust.”

Sue Cousland, Chief Nurse and Director of Operations for Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust (LCHS), said: “We are very excited to be working in partnership with the Butterfly Hospice Trust to build on the palliative care and expertise LCHS already provides in the community. This service will allow patients to have the choice of having quality, seamless inpatient support closer to home, whether for respite or end of life care.”

Chief Executive of Butterfly Hospice Trust, Judi Byrne, said: “This is very good news for local people. Our partnership with LCHS enables our hospice staff and volunteers to work together with clinical teams to give patients, their carers and families individualised care which promotes choice and maintains privacy and dignity. The homely and welcoming inpatient unit is the result of many years of visionary hard work and dedication from numerous people in the community and they can be very proud of what they have achieved.”

• NHS Lincolnshire East Clinical Commissioning Group is made up of 30 GP practices from across the Boston Area, East Lindsey and Skegness and Coast localities, who are working together to ensure the optimum health and wellbeing of more than 240,000 people.  Covering an area of 1,060 square miles, Lincolnshire East CCG is responsible for commissioning – or buying – health services for its local patient population.   
• Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust (LCHS) is Lincolnshire’s largest provider of community healthcare. The trust’s 2,600 staff care for thousands of patients every day at home or their chosen place of care, in community hospitals, health clinics, minor injuries units and walk in centre. Health visitors and school nurses support young families, while teams of nurses, therapists and specialists provide care for those across the county, whether suffering from respiratory conditions, heart problems, diabetes, cancer, or wounds such as leg ulcers. LCHS also provides primary care out of hours and healthy lifestyle services.
• The Butterfly Hospice Trust is an independent charity in Lincolnshire set up to provide free palliative and end of life care to anyone over the age of 18 who has been diagnosed with a life-limiting illness. Its purpose-built hospice sits within four acres of grounds close to Pilgrim Hospital in Boston to provide inpatient facilities, including symptom control, respite and end of life care. The trust’s work is supported by the generosity of the local community.

• Lincolnshire East CCG – Simon Hopkinson – 01522 515343
• Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust – Sharon Bradwell – 01529 220407
• Butterfly Hospice Trust – Sandra White – 01205 311222