Background The COVID-19 pandemic, whilst challenging for all, acted as a catalyst for collaboration between NHS partners and hospice colleagues to improve service delivery across all settings.

The directors of care from four hospices met weekly with commissioners to provide support for one another and to work collaboratively to ensure increasing demands were met and good practice shared. This collaborative effort paid off with a successful joint bid for additional funding to enhance 24/7 care and support for care homes. Key outcomes were delivered and care enhanced through new and different ways of working.

Aim Our main aim is to learn from this experience to transform care for people receiving palliative and end-of-life care across our Integrated Care System. Emerging from the second wave, the four hospices were keen to learn from this experience, to optimise opportunities and improve quality of care for patients, their families and bereaved clients. A joint Hospice Collaboration Project group was set up with fortnightly meetings to develop key collaborative projects.

Methodology The group will work collaboratively to:

• Identify population health needs in relation to palliative and end-of-life care.

• Create a model of partnership which influences and shapes best practice, that is sustainable and maximises statutory and voluntary income to meet the outcomes of the needs analysis.

• Meet the requirements of the national, regional and local population health agendas.

• Share best practice and offer joint solutions where possible demonstrating the ongoing ‘added value’ of hospices in care delivery.

Results At this stage the project is at the outset of shaping a sustainable way ahead, working with system partners including the Palliative and End of Life Care Delivery Group and commissioners and learning from other hospice approaches. Our methodology has backing from the ICS and regional strategic clinical network.

Conclusions It’s early days but there’s great energy, inspiration and willingness for continued improvement to service delivery as demonstrated during the pandemic.