At South Coast Hospice in KwaZulu-Natal, staff reductions since COVID-19 have left key team members carrying several roles. At Camdeboo Hospice in the Eastern Cape, limited staffing and retirements delayed a review of policies and procedures. Both organisations have recently maintained their accreditation through the Association of Palliative Care Centres (APCC), despite these pressures.
South Coast Hospice maintained its 5-star status, Camdeboo its 3-star status, and Living Hope Trust its 4-star accreditation. Their experiences show some of the work involved in applying the APCC’s Standards for Palliative Healthcare Services while keeping services running.
APCC Standards
The accredited Standards for Palliative Healthcare Services are the only Standards that exist in South Africa for institutions that provide palliative care (aside from hospitals and clinics).
The APCC offers a mentorship programme on Standards implementation to members. This mentorship programme is structured to assist members to meet the international standards compliance requirements and to be recommended for an external survey by COHSASA towards the achievement of the international accreditation status of the organisation. The 5th edition of the STANDARDS FOR PALLIATIVE HEALTHCARE SERVICES is available free of charge.
South Coast CEO Di van Dyk described what the achievement meant for her reduced team.
“Achieving our 5-star rating under these circumstances is a significant accomplishment. It reflects the dedication, hard work and determination of a committed team who continue to work together to uphold the standards of South Coast Hospice despite the challenges we face.”
Mentorship visit
The team’s assessment was followed by a mentorship visit from APCC Accreditation Manager Warren Oxford-Huggett and Sheila De Maroussem on 28 October. They worked through areas needing attention and reviewed the hospice’s small mental health step-down unit and home care programme, supported by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health.
The visit formed part of the APCC’s funded KwaZulu-Natal Accreditation Support Programme, which also supports Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust. During an October visit to Hillcrest, Warren worked with the team on questions arising from its self-assessment. The organisation runs a 24-bed inpatient unit and a small home-based care programme, which it hopes to expand.
Living Hope’s accreditation followed an on-site survey in August. The APCC Accreditation Committee acknowledged its consistent application of the Standards to the care it provides.
Reviewing policy
For Camdeboo Hospice in Graaff-Reinet, reviewing its policies gave newer colleagues an opportunity to become familiar with the organisation’s requirements and their own responsibilities. The team completed its self-assessment two months ahead of the agreed deadline, while also making time for three staff members to undergo training.
Manager Susan van der Linde explained how the Standards help the team in its everyday work.
“These Standards provide direction for our daily operations, promote consistent and quality care, and help protect our Hospice, our staff, and our patients,” she said.
Camdeboo’s newer colleagues now have a clearer understanding of their responsibilities, while South Coast has used mentorship to address issues identified in its assessment. These are useful outcomes for teams whose staffing pressures leave little room for extra work.
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