St Clare's Hospice bosses to decide next move after sudden closure of centre

Bosses at South Tyneside's St Clare's Hospice are meeting today to discuss ways to reopen the centre following its closure due to care quality concerns.
St Clare's Hospice, Jarrow.St Clare's Hospice, Jarrow.
St Clare's Hospice, Jarrow.

They will do so with the centre in temporary shutdown, after a snap standards inspection revealed issues over the way it is being run.

It is believed all seven patients at the centre, in Primrose Terrace, Jarrow, were transferred to other service providers or discharged home over the weekend.

St Clare's CEO Avril Robinson.St Clare's CEO Avril Robinson.
St Clare's CEO Avril Robinson.
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A spokeswoman said managers were holding a mid-morning update meeting and that just a few staff members remained on site.

She said: “A meeting is being held but any other details are unavailable at this time. We expect to release an update later today.”

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Read more: St Clare's Hospice announces temporary closure after inspection raise...

The hospice closed voluntarily after concerns were raised about its leadership by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The CQC is the independent regulator of all health and social care services in England.

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CQC inspectors first raised concerns about the way the hospice was being run after an inspection in January.

They returned on Wednesday, September 12 to check if improvements had been implemented but still found cause for alarm.

The inspection revealed issues in several care areas, including governance and clinical leadership.

St Clare’s has insisted the closure is not connected to a three-week shutdown in July which was caused by a shortage of doctors.

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Bosses have already been in talks with the South Tyneside Clinical Commissioning Group to work on an improvement plan.

Avril Robinson, the hospice’s chief executive, has said concerns raised by the CQC were being take “extremely seriously”.

She has insisted that the centres was fully committed to improving the areas of work that underpin its services.