Five wards at Whipps Cross Hospital have been recognised nationally for the quality of their end-of-life care.
The Gold Standards Framework (GSF), a registered charity that works to improve dignity and compassion in end-of-life care, has given its Hallmark Award to the hospital's intensive care unit, Syringa Ward, Sage Ward, Sycamore Ward and the Margaret Centre.
The assessment looked at how each department supports patients approaching the end of life with "dignity, compassion and respect".
Over two years, the ICU made a series of changes, including making conversations about patients' wishes a routine part of care and introducing "I Am a Person" boards, which help staff see patients as individuals beyond their medical conditions.
Paloma Carretero Corchado, ICU matron, said small changes had made a big impact on making the environment feel more welcoming, creating spaces where families feel supported during difficult conversations.
Shanthini Avorgbedor, end-of-life care education facilitator, said achieving the accreditation "requires commitment, collaboration and a shared vision", and pointed to the "strong teamwork, communication and compassion" across all five departments.
The accreditation is reviewed every three years, and Whipps Cross plans to extend the programme to more wards.
The teams will be formally recognised at the GSF Hallmark Awards ceremony in Birmingham on 22nd September.
