UK’s Best Providers of End of Life Care Celebrated at National Awards
Over 172 organisations were recognised at the Gold Standards Framework Quality Hallmark Awards, with Hospital Wards, Care Homes, Retirement Villages, Domiciliary Care Teams, a Hospice, GP practice, and Prison service among those honoured.
- Organisations across both health and social care demonstrated their long term commitment to GSF with many achieving re-accreditation for the 5th and 6th time (accreditation lasts for 3 years).
- First Domiciliary Care Agency achieves Platinum Re-Accreditation, proving long-term sustainability
The GSF Awards brings together some of the UK’s leading providers of end of life care to celebrates their success with over 400 delegates in attendance on Friday 26th September 2025 at the Gold Standards Framework (GSF) Annual Conference, held at East Side Rooms in Birmingham. The event gives the opportunity to celebrate achievements, forge new ideas for development, and showcase exemplars Nationally.
Recognising Outstanding Organisations
GSF Hospital Ward of the Year
The Willows (Beech & Rowan Wards) at Yeatman Hospital, part of Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust was awarded Hospital Ward of the Year for their excellence in delivering end of life care, demonstrating compassion and kindness to patients, their families and the staff, and for their commitment to providing dedicated end of life suites with thoughtful supportive facilities for families/carers.
In addition, 10 hospital wards (nine acute, one community (including two mental health wards) achieved GSF accreditation for the first time, while seven wards (six community and one acute) were successfully reaccredited.
GSF Care Home of the Year
Castle House Nursing Home in Somerset was named Care Home of the Year, for exemplifying outstanding, personalised care, with the owner/manager deeply committed to continuously improving living well and end of life care. Through compassion, collaboration, bespoke staff training, and holistic support, the home prioritises residents’ and relatives’ needs above all else, creating a truly nurturing environment that feels like home.
A total of one hundred and thirty-nine care homes were presented with the GSF Quality Hallmark Award by Victoria Garratt from National Care Forum – seventy-four receiving the award for the first time, and sixty-five reaccredited, forty-two of which achieving prestigious Platinum status for continually accrediting every three years. Sixteen Care UK care homes and twelve Greensleeves care homes received their Accreditation Award.
GSF Domiciliary Care Provider of the Year
The Peaches Healthcare are the first domiciliary care agency to achieve platinum status, and were awarded GSF Domiciliary Care Provider of the Year, recognised for showing compassion across every aspect of their practice.
In addition, Peaches Healthcare won the Palliative Care at Home Provider Award at the 2025 Palliative Care Awards in June, celebrated for delivering care with compassion, clarity, and a strong commitment to the Gold Standard Framework.
Nine domiciliary care agencies also received their Accreditation Quality Hallmark Awards at the GSF Conference.
GSF Innovation Award
Sutton Court Care Centre in Surrey took home the 2025 GSF Innovation Award. This home was recognised with the GSF Innovation Award for its exceptional commitment to continuous improvement, collaborative teamwork, and compassionate, person-centred care. Feedback from professionals, relatives, and residents highlighted the team’s warmth, openness, and dedication to learning and partnership. Since its last accreditation, the home has introduced a wide range of innovative practices, including participation in national research and pilot projects, developing new tools to improve safety and wellbeing, and embedding creative approaches to communication and end of life care. Their enthusiasm for the Gold Standards Framework, combined with genuine compassion in every aspect of practice, sets them apart as a leader in innovation and excellence.
Impact of GSF across all sectors
This event also recognised a GP Practice, three Retirement Villages (two of which received their platinum award), a Practice Plus Group Prison healthcare team and Jersey Hospice Care, who received their re-accreditation award. The Hospice team travelled all the way from Jersey to accept their award in person.
Celebrating Long-Term Commitment
This year saw a remarkable number of organisations reaching multiple reaccreditation milestones, proving that high-quality end of life care can be embedded and sustained over many years.
Oakfield Nursing Home in Lancashire, Eliza Palmer Care Home in Surrey, Arboretum Nursing Home in West Midlands, Linden Lodge Nursing Home in Warwickshire, Melrose Care Home in Sussex, The Beeches Nursing Home in Cornwall and Westside Care Home in Surrey were reaccredited for the 6th time, celebrating fifteen years of GSF sustainability.
There were also eight care homes celebrating their 5th reaccreditation, demonstrating commitment to compassionate end of life care for twelve years.
These achievements highlight the dedication of providers who continue to embed best practice and raise standards year after year.
Words from GSF
Julie Armstrong-Wilson, Chief Operating Officer for GSF, said: “I speak on behalf of the GSF Team and Board of Trustees when I say congratulations to all 172 organisations that have been recognised this year, whether for the first time or for the sixth, your leadership, enthusiasm and commitment to continually improve the standards for EOLC is something to be proud of. The positive impact you have had on the people you care for and their families is worthy of celebration. There are still too many people that do not have a good end of life care experience, so to be able to showcase what can be achieved with the right support is crucial. Taking this opportunity to celebrate your success, share best practice and foster new ideas while networking is vitally important.
We have been accrediting organisations for over 15 years and this year we are so thrilled to be hosting our biggest event yet, with representation from all sectors that we accredit. A special recognition goes to our Organisations of the Year and Innovation award winners, who shine as examples of what can be achieved by the generalist workforce with the right end of life training, support and commitment.”
