2008 Annual Review. Page 6.

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Plans for Future Periods

St Luke's remains completely committed to the delivery of excellence in the clinical care of our patients and in the provision of support for their families and carers. The Hospice also is steadfast in its commitment to the continuing development and expansion of its services within the constraints of funding and space, so that as many people as possible within its catchment area may receive the services they need. As always the Hospice has had to tread a careful path balancing the provision of care with the availability of funds. Notwithstanding an uplift in funding from the NHS in 2008, the general level of NHS funding remain deeply unsatisfactory.

In the previous report was outlined the Hospice's ambition finally to acquire Clock Cottage as a site for expansion. However escalating development costs and a tightening of borrowing criteria at a time of growing national financial uncertainty caused the Board to reconsider its position. The Trustees decided that it would be financially imprudent to take on a project of this magnitude in the prevailing conditions, which might put at risk the provision of core services. Consequently the Board took the decision to withdraw the offer to purchase. Subsequent events have underlined the wisdom of that decision. The Hospice continues to have expansion as a longer term strategic aim, but only when financially and operationally prudent to do so.

Clinically, the Hospice will continue to develop and expand its services, wherever possible. This included, in 2008, a refurbishment of clinical areas, funded by a grant from the Department of Health. The Hospice maintained its links with the Kaunas Terminal Care Hospital in Lithuania through a visit by our medical director and with the development of hospice and palliative care in Lithuania generally by hosting a visit from a new oncology centre in Klaipedia.

Overall 2008 was a challenging year for St Luke's and 2009 will bring its own challenges. The Hospice intends to convert some rooms to make better provision for working space, to relieve some of the overcrowding consequent on service development. It will also conduct a full review of its remuneration policy to ensure that levels of pay and benefits are both competitive and affordable. The Board considers this review as central to its staffing policy and will make provision from reserve where necessary to fund any uplift in the short term. Thereafter it is planned to increase income from fundraising to achieve a balanced budget. St Luke's is experiencing a shortage of nurses, reflecting the national shortage of qualified palliative care staff. It will continue to address this shortfall vigorously. The shops company will continue to seek opportunities for new shops, taking advantage of the depressed commercial property rental market. The company anticipates a sound trading year as people turn to charity shops as cheaper options during recession than high street retailers.

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