Gold Standard recognised for hospice care

Tuesday 10th Mar 2026

Forest Holme Hospice has proudly been recognised for excellence in care with a prestigious Gold award from University Hospitals Dorset, following a recent Clinical Quality Accreditation Scheme (CQAS) inspection.

The award is in recognition of the dedication, compassion and professionalism of the Forest Holme Hospice in-patient team, highlighting both the quality of care they provide every day and the values that underpin the hospice’s approach to supporting patients and families, even in the most challenging circumstances.

The inspection panel spoke highly of the collaborative working across the whole service and praised the strong communication that is embedded in daily practice. Their feedback recognised the commitment shown by both clinical and non-clinical staff in working together to provide safe, effective and compassionate care.

The panel commented, “Congratulations to the team at Forest Holme on achieving the Gold Clinical Accreditation award. All those on the review panel would like to commend the team’s compassionate, person centred, holistic and positive risk-taking care. The collaboration, communication, mutual respect and inclusive team working across the whole of the Forest Holme workforce is a shining example.”

CQAS is a nationally recognised clinical quality accreditation scheme that provides independent assurance that services meet robust, evidence based standards of care, safety and effectiveness. Achieving Gold status demonstrates Forest Holme Hospice’s continued commitment to quality improvement and best practice within specialist palliative and end of life care.

Debbie Waters, Matron for Palliative Care at both Forest Holme Hospice and the Macmillan Unit, said, “This award is a proud moment for both hospices and a testament to the dedication of our staff, who work tirelessly to ensure patients receive the highest possible standard of care and support.”