Our Engagement: St John’s Hospice Lancaster

On Friday 8th November 2024, Senior Engagement Officer Sue and one of our wonderful volunteers Charles held a pop-up at St John’s Hospice in Lancaster.

St John’s Hospice offers palliative care for the local community, with both end of life inpatient wards and care at home services; as well as the Forget-Me-Not Family Bereavement Centre, Courtyard Café and lots of day therapies and support for those with long-term and life shortening illnesses.

Based in the reception area we spoke with seventeen people who were visiting loved ones and/or calling in for coffee or lunch at the Courtyard Café to gather feedback about local services as well as raising awareness of Healthwatch and our role in helping shape future services.

We heard positive feedback about Queen Square Medical Centre, Lancaster, around ease of getting an appointment and seeing the right person quickly. We will be sharing this feedback with the practice.

Feedback around the Emergency Department (ED) at Royal Lancaster Infirmary was less positive, with waiting times, the condition of waiting rooms and general dissatisfaction of care were all raised.

“I’ve had to go several times recently and it’s appalling”.

Healthwatch Lancashire will share this feedback with the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay Trust (UHMBT) who manage Royal Lancaster Infirmary.

We were made very welcome by the St John’s Hospice team and were kept well supplied with cups of tea throughout the event which was greatly appreciated!