10.04.19

An independent review has found that the care given to seriously ill children and their families at Ty Gobaith Children’s Hospice is high quality, safe, effective and dignified.

The findings are contained in a report by Health Inspectorate Wales (HIW) in its review of healthcare services for young people, which includes an inspection of Ty Gobaith in North Wales and Ty Hafan in South Wales. Both hospices were given top marks in the review.

Andy Goldsmith, Chief Executive of Hope House Children’s Hospices which includes Ty Gobaith, said he was delighted the review had recognised the high quality care on offer at the hospice in Conwy.

“Ty Gobaith plays a crucial role in supporting terminally ill children by helping to manage their symptoms, giving them vital and regular breaks, and supporting their families at the most difficult of times,” he said.

“The findings are testament to the commitment of all the Ty Gobaith team who put children and families at the heart of everything we do, and they will provide reassurance to the thousands of people who support our charity and make such great care possible.”

Mr Goldsmith added that the report also highlighted the need for the Welsh Government to assess how many children and families across Wales were currently not having their needs for palliative care met.

“This reflects our ambition to expand our services so that we can support every child and family who needs us and ensure that no one suffers the death of a child alone. We are committed to achieving this and we need to double our fundraising income to make this a reality,” he said.

Findings in the report said that:

• staff were kind and caring and provided good support to families
• young people received care that was tailored to their specific needs and were supported with an extensive range of facilities and programmes to enhance their wellbeing
• there was good management and leadership at the hospices
• patients and their families were very positive about their experiences of care and rated the care and treatment as excellent
• families, including siblings, were provided with a range of emotional support and counselling services, including bereavement and family support
• children, young people and their families were involved in decisions about their care, and hospice staff were particularly respectful of their wishes for end-of-life care and after death
• facilities were available to enable the child or young person to lay, after death, in peaceful surroundings which gave their family and friends the opportunity to say goodbye in their own time and in their own way.

Ty Gobaith opened its doors in 2004 and provides care and support to terminally ill children and their families living in the North and Mid Wales area. It also offers support to anyone suffering the death of a child, in any circumstances. The hospice receives just one month’s statutory funding, with donations from supporters and fundraising meeting its running costs for the other eleven months of every year.

ENDS

For more information please contact:

Chief Executive Andy Goldsmith on 01691 671999

PR Manager Vanessa Thomas on 07800 581047 or email [email protected]