Helston’s Lismore Ward named Ward of the Year for end-of-life care

The last days of someone’s life are often spent on a ward like this one. Quiet, unhurried, and looked after by people who know that how it ends matters as much as anything that came before.

At Helston Community Hospital, the team on Lismore Ward have just been told they do it better than most. The ward has been named Community Hospital Ward of the Year at the Gold Standards Framework (GSF) Awards 2026, held in Birmingham on Tuesday 22 September.

It was a big night for community hospitals in Cornwall. Helston is one of three run by Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust to be awarded platinum status by GSF, alongside Launceston and Stratton community hospitals. In all, 147 organisations from across the UK were recognised at the ceremony.

📷GSF Awards

A ward that had been working towards it

As well as marking accreditations, the awards celebrate success across a number of categories, and Lismore Ward took the Ward of the Year title.

Trudy Addington, Sister at Helston Community Hospital, said: “We were delighted to be nominated and are absolutely thrilled to have been awarded GSF Community Hospital Ward of the Year 2026.

“We have been working hard to achieve this accolade for some time, and the success is thanks to the dedication of the whole team at Helston.

“An extra special thank you to Bryony Tresidder and Naomi Halliwell who collated the evidence to demonstrate the amazing end of life care provided by the ward.”

What platinum status means

GSF describes itself as the UK’s leading quality improvement programme for end-of-life care. For more than 25 years it has supported frontline healthcare staff to give high-quality, compassionate care to people in their final years of life. Its aim is for every person to get the best possible care whatever their condition, care setting or provider, and to be supported to live well before they die and to die well in the place and manner of their choosing.

Platinum is awarded to organisations that reach the highest standards of end-of-life care and can show they sustain and embed them over time. All three Cornish hospitals have kept those standards up for three years, which is why each was given platinum. Launceston and Stratton were reaccredited.

Emma Cases, End of Life Care Clinical Facilitator for the Trust, said: “Achieving and sustaining a gold standard of care for people at the end of life requires collaboration across all staff on the wards and takes a real team effort to sustain the level of clinical diligence needed.

“All 3 community hospital wards were able to demonstrate this to the GSF assessment panel, but what really stood out is the genuine connection hospital staff have with their local communities, including volunteers and league of friends, who work together to keep patients and their families at the centre of everything they do. It is such a privilege to be part of, and we are extremely proud of everyone involved.”

High scores at Launceston and Stratton

Nicola Wilks, Matron for Launceston Community Hospital and Stratton Community Hospital, said both wards scored very highly.

“I am incredibly proud of both Launceston and Stratton wards who both scored very high scores, also for their ongoing commitment to maintaining high GSF standards and for sharing their knowledge and best practice across the wider teams,” said Nicola.

“Their dedication has helped ensure that patients receive compassionate, high quality care, while providing vital support to families during some of the most difficult times. They have also built strong and effective partnerships with the wider multidisciplinary team, supporting timely, coordinated discharge planning where appropriate for patients approaching the end of life.

“Their collaborative approach, professionalism, and commitment to excellence continue to make a significant difference to the experience of patients and their loved ones.

“Well done to all teams attending this year and thank you for your outstanding work.”

📷Helston ward