Martlets and St Barnabas Hospices announce a merger to enhance patient care and provide sustainable hospice care for the future.

Martlets Hospice (including Martlets Care) and St Barnabas Hospices, which already incorporates St Barnabas House (Worthing) and Chestnut Tree House (Arundel) is proud to announce a merger that aims to create a stronger, more sustainable and comprehensive hospice care organisation that is committed to delivering outstanding patient care across the communities.

All three hospices will continue to operate under their existing names and identities but will be run by a group leadership team which will be put in place imminently.

This represents a significant milestone in the sector providing sustainable hospice care for the future. By combining the strengths and expertise of three hospices, the organisations hope to improve access to specialist palliative and end of life care, achieve greater efficiency, and ultimately benefit patients, families, staff and the wider communities.

Both organisations are committed to delivering excellent patient care and ensuring that patients do not experience any change in care provision.

Patients will not notice any change to the care they receive, the staff who care for them, or their access to hospice services.

Amanda Fadero, CEO of St Barnabas Hospices, said of the merger: “We are excited about the possibilities and opportunities that this merger brings and look forward to continuing our shared mission of providing outstanding hospice care to those that need it. Together, we will build a stronger foundation for compassionate palliative and end of life care in our communities.”

About Martlets and St Barnabas House

Martlets and St Barnabas House are leading providers of hospice care across the Worthing and Brighton areas, with Chestnut Tree House covering Sussex and Southeast Hampshire, who are dedicated to delivering compassionate, specialist palliative and quality end of life care to patients and their families. The organisations share a commitment to excellence, and the merger reflects their joint dedication to enhancing the overall well-being of the communities they serve.

Questions and Answers

Outstanding Patient Care: the merged organisation will bring together a wealth of specialist clinical experience, talent and resources to enhance the level of care provided to our patients, and to provide consistency of care across the catchment areas.
Community Impact: The merged hospice group will be committed to maintaining an active role in the community and contributing to its well-being. We aim to be a trusted partner in supporting individuals and families during their most challenging times.
Improved Sustainability: The integration of resources and streamlined processes will improve operational and financial efficiency, allowing us to allocate more resources to patient care.

There are no plans to cut bed numbers in either hospice.

Martlets has 14 beds in the hospice and is currently running at a capacity of 8 due to staffing levels, maintained from our return from Maycroft Manor. We will aim to open up more beds as we are able to secure both staffing and funding after the best way to meet unmet need.

St Barnabas has 8 beds open with plans to increase to 12 over the next few months once some building work on the unit has completed.

Yes, your support is more vital now than ever before. Hospice UK’s recent benchmark report showed that 67% of hospices reported a deficit in the first half of this year (FY23/24). With the downturn in the financial health of the hospice sector expected to continue, we feel it is right to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the charity, but we will still be dependent on the generosity of our communities to keep the doors open. This means that we can make every penny of your donation work harder to keep caring for patients and their families during some of their most challenging times.

Less than 25% of costs are covered from central government.

Core clinical services will be maintained and developed to meet the needs of our patients. The merger will provide both organisations with the opportunity to share knowledge, experience and resources to ensure that patients and their families receive the same level of excellent care in both communities. This may mean a review of our clinical models so that they align and offer equity across both communities, as well as a review of systems and processes to enable more efficient ways of working.

The Board will be chaired by Mike Rymer, current Chair of the Board of St Barnabas Hospices. The Board will be comprised from a combination of existing St Barnabas Hospices Trustees and Martlets Trustees. Until the 31 December 2024 Martlets will continue to have its own Board which will report into the Group Board. The Martlets Board will also be comprised from a mix of Trustees from both organisations. Appointments to both Boards will be confirmed in due course.

Published 30/01/2024