Rotherham Hospice exists to ease the physical and emotional pain of death and dying for everyone in our community, guided by our 2024–2030 strategy, Living Life’s Wishes, our promise to add more life to every day and ensure a dignified death for all, wherever and however people choose to be cared for. Serving a borough of approximately 265,000 residents, around 19% aged 65+, we support about 1,700 patients and their loved ones each year. Our full spectrum of services includes a 14-bed inpatient unit, 24/7 Hospice at Home, day hospice services, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, adult and children’s bereavement support (including Sunbeams for young people), counselling, spiritual care, and innovative therapies, all provided free of charge, tailored to each person’s needs, values and beliefs. As an independent charity, we receive just 37% of our funding from the NHS, a proportion that is expected to decline as costs rise. We rely on the generosity of our local community and volunteers to keep care free at the point of need, ensuring everyone in Rotherham can access compassionate, high-quality support when it matters most. We are proud to be rated Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission, the highest possible judgement. The CQC praised our “kind, caring and compassionate” staff, our “clear strategic vision, modernised governance and open, inclusive culture,” and recognised us as the only regional hospice offering the full spectrum of care, free of charge. As the CQC wrote: “It was impressive to see the lengths they went to, to ensure care was personalised at a really difficult time in people’s lives. Staff took a genuine interest in people’s wellbeing, which resulted in both positive outcomes and feedback. All the staff at Rotherham Hospice should be very proud of the care they’re now delivering for people using the service and their local community. Other services can look at this report and learn how to make significant improvements to provide outstanding care.”
