Both hospice charities share the same mission to support patients and families in Buckinghamshire through the most difficult of times. The need for hospice care is increasing rapidly because of the ageing and growing population. This increased need, and the economic climate, mean costs are increasing significantly. Merger of the two well respected charities, will enable them to operate more efficiently and combine their strengths to further develop the hospice care and support offered to people across Buckinghamshire and its borders.
Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity commissions services, including In-patient and Out-patient care and Hospice at Home, from the Florence Nightingale Hospice at Stoke Mandeville Hospital (part of Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust). South Bucks Hospice delivers extensive outpatient support at Butterfly House in High Wycombe.
Noel Ratcliffe, Chair of Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity said, “ We’re confident that news of our merger discussions with South Bucks Hospice will be reassuring to those in need of hospice care, as well as to the families, friends, and professionals who support them. This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to providing the highest quality care to everyone across Buckinghamshire and its borders. Together, our teams will work to ensure the best possible outcomes for patients and those who stand beside them.”
David Ellis, Chair of South Bucks Hospice said, “We are pleased South Bucks Hospice is in advanced merger discussions with Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity. We believe this is now the best way forward to continue to serve the people of South Bucks, offering enhanced services that are financially sustainable. Patients and their families will remain our priority throughout. We offer our most sincere thanks to the loyal supporters of the Hospice who have enabled us to provide such life enhancing care - we look forward to continuing the journey with them.”
The charities will be working through the next steps with staff and stakeholders and current services will continue. They will provide updates on their websites and are confident that this merger will enhance the care offered to patients and their families across Buckinghamshire.
ENDS
For further information
Louise Ashworth 07740844733 louiseashworth@fnhospice.org.uk
Elaine Begley 07801 515585 elaine.begley@sbhospice.org.uk
About Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity
Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity is committed to delivering the best hospice care for everyone who needs it in Buckinghamshire and borders, wherever and whenever they need it. We support their loved ones and carers through the toughest of times. We help families make the most of every day together.
We enhance and complement the care and support delivered by Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust to ensure patients, families and carers get the individual clinical, practical and emotional support they need to make the most of every day they have together.
We partner with Florence Nightingale Hospice to deliver services, at its site in the grounds of Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire and in patients' homes across the region.
These services include additional nurses for the In-Patient Unit, the only bedded unit in Buckinghamshire, to enable them to deliver dedicated, individual care to patients and loved ones. Also within the Hospice building we commission the Lymphoedema Clinic and Day Hospice service which offers physical, therapeutic and emotional support to people who have been diagnosed with a life-limiting illness, but who are currently able to live independently at home.
In the community we support a team of Clinical Nurse Specialists, Florrie's Childrens' Team, Bereavement Listeners and our FNH@Home team, who support those who wish to spend their final days at home.
All services are provided free of charge to patients and their families. We are committed to raising £1.7million this financial year.
For more information visit www.fnhospice.org.uk
About South Bucks Hospice
South Bucks Hospice is a charity serving South Bucks based in High Wycombe. It receives less than 4% of its funding from statutory sources. The majority of funding comes from the generosity of the community.
The hospice supports more than 600 patients each year living with life-limiting or life-threatening illnesses. It offers patient-centred care to individuals through the provision of specialist palliative, psychotherapeutic and lymphoedema care. It also supports families and carers in many ways, but particularly through counselling.
Formally established in 1986, South Bucks Hospice offers care designed to meet the societal changes we face as people live longer. As the only day hospice in South Buckinghamshire, it serves over 350,000 people.
For more information visit https://sbh.org.uk
South Bucks Hospice
Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity (FNHC) and South Bucks Hospice (SBH) have announced that they are in advanced merger discussions, which should be concluded by September.
South Bucks Hospice
