Nursing home nets big award

A HAYLE nursing home has won an award for its dedication to looking after people in the last years of their life.

Staff from The Beeches travelled to Birmingham last week to collect the NHS Gold Standards Framework Quality Hallmark Award after their efforts to 'allow residents a dignified journey through their final years'.

The success marks the end of a rigorously-assessed 18-month programme and makes the home one of only 30 accredited businesses in the country.

It comes as the home is celebrating 20 years of providing nursing care in the town.

Marian Rich, who has been manager for more than five years, said she hoped the award would help dispel some of the negative press which often surrounds care homes.

“We provide an excellent standard for elderly and frail residents as well as people with complex and terminal illnesses,” she said.

“We have a very good team of nurses, care assistants, cooks and housekeepers who are trained, or are undergoing training, in palliative care.

“The well-maintained home has a very low staff turnover, which supports continuity of care, and following assessment by the University of Plymouth we are now a training centre for student nurses.”

Staff were joined at the ceremony at the Britannia Hotel by their counterparts at Eshcol House near Truro.

The two Cornish homes were granted gold status out of 600 to have undertaken the course nationally.

Peter Pool, owner of The Beeches, added: “It's all about being ahead of the game and providing the best possible care and I'd like to thank everyone involved.”

Dr Keri Thomas, National Lead for the Gold Standards Framework, said: “It is our hope that this will become the quality standard by which all homes will be judged in this area so that all residents receive the best care in their final years of life.”