The National Accreditation Manager, Warren Oxford-Huggett, recently completed a trip to the Eastern Cape, visiting four of the six member organisations in that province.
A key element that stood out for him during this visit was the importance of connecting with one another. The vast distances between members have meant that in-person meetings have not taken place for a while and while virtual meetings have their place, nothing beats physical time together.
From the time spent with the senior team members, it became very apparent that we are greater than the sum of our parts.
This was a wonderful opportunity to visit members, to engage in positive discussions, and to explore possibilities for development and growth. The quality assurance process addresses the needs of patients, organisations, communities and supporters. This process develops confidence in organisations and the care they provide by both supporters/funders and staff. Patient outcomes and safety always remain a priority and are enhanced by the accreditation process.
This has truly been a magnificent experience, and I am grateful for the opportunity.
St. Francis Hospice, Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
The CEO at St. Francis (Carol) is relatively new to the position, and our time together focused on support and grant-writing ideas. The quality assurance and accreditation programme was discussed in detail. St. Francis has an extensive programme of community fund-raising (events) and this has become a key feature of their sustainability. While I was there, the Hospice shop was hosting a “silent auction.”
With someone new in the role, the importance of connecting with other members within the Eastern Cape as well as with members around the country was very apparent. Details on WhatsApp groups, email distribution lists and the names of people to contact were shared and discussed.
Palcare, Makhanda and Port Alfred (Sunshine Coast)
I am grateful to the leadership team at Palcare for taking the time to discuss the quality assurance programme with me. Once again, the need to connect with other members was apparent. Palcare covers a large area of the Eastern Cape with great distances between communities.
St. Bernard’s Hospice, East London
This was my first trip to East London. A big thank you to Melissa, who took the initiative to have most of the members of her team present, and our interaction took the form of a presentation with Q&A. A different way to approach these visits, and I think, something I will encourage going forward.
Amin Frail and Palliative Care Centre, Amalinda, East London
This one-star site is only 2 years old. They have a 10-bed IPU with a focus on aged/frail care. A small staff complement is supplemented by contracted healthcare professionals (doctors, social workers, physiotherapists). They have reasonably low patient numbers, but they have big plans. While Amin Centre has a long road of development ahead of them, there is an opportunity here that needs to be explored.