A HOSPICE has been awarded an overall rating of ‘outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) for the first time in its history.
Announced today (13 August 2025), the rating follows an unannounced inspection at St Richard’s Hospice, based in Worcester, in March 2025.
In the report, inspectors noted hospice patients “received care and support that was exceptionally compassionate and kind”.
The hospice is rated outstanding, the highest rating possible, in three key areas: caring, responsive and well-led, and good in the safe and effective categories.
Mike Wilkerson, Chief Executive of St Richard’s, said: “This rating marks a significant milestone for our hospice, the people we care for, our team—and our wider community.
“I am hugely proud of every member of the team, and feel truly humble to work alongside such amazing people who make a real difference to our patients and loved ones each day.
“However, none of this would be possible without our community who enable us to provide the level of care we do. With around 80 per cent of our income provided by our community, it is only thanks to the generosity of supporters that we can continue our work.
“This achievement is one shared by our whole community, and we thank all of you for playing your part to enable outstanding hospice care for people in Worcestershire.”
Comments in the report included: “Staff cared for patients and each other in a way that exceeded expectation and fully respected their privacy and dignity. Staff demonstrated genuine empathy for the patients cared for.”
And a statement in the ‘well led’ section of the report read: “The service vision and strategy reflected the needs of patients who used the service, wider communities, and challenges the service faced.
“Staff, patients and partners were well-informed, supported and collaborative in achieving the vision, values, and strategic objectives.”
This rating has been achieved following a year in which St Richard’s had to restructure its clinical services and workforce to tackle unprecedented financial pressures caused by rising costs and growing demand for its care.
New ways of working have been introduced to enable the hospice to maintain the number of patient beds available and its care provision across the county.
The changes have been made to ensure the long-term future of St Richard’s services in the face of ongoing financial challenges across the hospice sector.
Jenny Cowpe, Chair of Trustees, said: “To receive a rating of ‘outstanding’ is a huge accomplishment and testament to the difference each one of our team makes to the care St Richard’s provides.
“I am enormously proud of our team, and grateful to our entire community for standing with us and helping us be there for our patients and the people important to them.”
The CQC is the independent regulator of health and social care in England.
The report will be published in full in the coming days on the CQC website.
St Richard’s Hospice is an independent charity offering free, expert care for adults with an illness that cannot be cured, and support for their loved ones and carers.
Each year the hospice team supports more than 3,100 patients, family members and bereaved people in Worcestershire.
It will cost in the region of £12m to run the hospice this year, which includes patient care and all the necessary support services.
St Richard’s relies on voluntary support, including from donations, gifts in Wills, retail and events for the majority of its income with the remainder funded by the NHS.