The awards, presented at the GSF Annual Conference in Birmingham on Friday 26 September, brought together over 400 delegates from hospitals, care homes, domiciliary care teams, hospices, GP practices, retirement villages and even a prison healthcare service. Many of the winners were being accredited for the fifth or sixth time, underlining years of sustained commitment to GSF standards.
Outstanding achievements across sectors
The Hospital Ward of the Year award went to The Willows (Beech & Rowan Wards) at Yeatman Hospital, Dorset, recognised for its dedicated end-of-life suites and compassionate care for patients and families. Ten hospital wards achieved accreditation for the first time, while seven wards successfully reaccredited.
In social care, Castle House Nursing Home in Somerset was named Care Home of the Year for its personalised and holistic approach. Out of 139 care homes honoured, 74 received their first accreditation, 65 were reaccredited, and 42 of those achieved Platinum status for maintaining continuous accreditation over many years.
Peaches Healthcare, a domiciliary care agency, became the first of its kind to achieve Platinum re-accreditation and was also named Domiciliary Care Provider of the Year. The agency had previously been recognised at the national Palliative Care Awards in June.
The Innovation Award went to Sutton Court Care Centre in Surrey, commended for embedding creative approaches to communication, safety and end-of-life support, alongside participation in national research projects.
Other winners included a GP practice, three retirement villages (two Platinum), a prison healthcare team, and Jersey Hospice Care, which travelled to Birmingham to collect its award in person.
Sustained excellence
Several care homes marked significant milestones, with seven achieving their sixth reaccreditation equating to 15 years of continuous GSF sustainability and eight celebrating their fifth. These milestones highlight how the framework is embedding long-term cultural change in end-of-life provision.
A message from GSF
Julie Armstrong-Wilson, Chief Operating Officer of GSF, praised the organisations:
“Congratulations to all 172 recognised this year. Whether you are receiving your first award or your sixth, your leadership and commitment to improving standards in end-of-life care is something to be proud of. Too many people still do not have the experience they deserve at the end of life, so showcasing what can be achieved with the right training and support is vital.”
She added that this year’s conference was GSF’s largest to date, bringing together providers from every sector:
“Special recognition goes to our Organisations of the Year and Innovation Award winners, who show what is possible when generalist staff are trained, supported, and committed to compassionate end-of-life care.”
