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The CEO of Jersey Hospice is due to retire next summer – with plans for an "open and transparent process" to appoint his successor.
News of Mike Palfreman's departure was communicated to volunteers at the charity in an emailed statement yesterday afternoon, which has been seen by Express.
In it, Mr Palfreman said that "the time and energy required to carry out the role of Chief Executive to the best of my ability is likely to become more challenging".
He wrote: "We have achieved much in the last three years and I fully intend to bring a number of remaining opportunities and challenges to a satisfactory conclusion over the next eight or so months, including, for example, a new long-term contract with HCS that will provide Hospice with a stable financial platform going forward to underpin our growing income generation work in retail and fundraising, and of course our exciting new store at Holme Grown."
Pictured: Mike Palfreman has been the CEO of Jersey Hospice Care since 2021. (Dave Ferguson)
Mr Palfreman confirmed that "work has commenced to agree and implement an open and transparent process" to find a successor.
This process will be lead by Hospice chair Goetz Eggelhoefer.
"I do appreciate that any changes in an organisation can be unsettling, hence my desire to ensure Hospice has sufficient time to find the right person to succeed me," added Mr Palfreman.
Mr Palfreman joined the local palliative care charity in July 2021, following the departure of Emelita Robbins.
He brought with him 11 years of experience in the hospice sector, having previously worked as Director of Fundraising at Princess Royal Trust for Carers, Chief Executive of Age Concern Havering, Interim Director of Fundraising at Hospice UK, and most recently, Chief Executive of Haven House Children’s Hospice in North East London.
Among the charity's more recent achievements was being recognised as 'Dementia Friendly' under the island's official accreditation scheme.
During Mr Palfreman's tenure, the charity also shared a statement on proposals to introduce Assisted Dying to Jersey. The charity said that they were aligned with the position of the European Association of Palliative Care, which has for the past 50 years said that assisted dying “shall not be included in the practice of palliative care”.
While the charity had been "fully engaged" in the consultation process, and kept in close contact with Government on the matter of assisted dying, Mr Palfreman was clear in an interview with Express that, were it to be implemented in Jersey, Jersey Hospice would not be involved in delivering assisted dying.
“We think that goes against the whole ethos of Hospice, the hospice movement and hospice care," he said.
Following contact from Express for comment, the charity posted a statement on its website this afternoon paying tribute to Mr Palfreman's leadership "through the aftermath of the Covid pandemic and the subsequent recovery and growth of the charity to more solid financial stability".
Mr Palfreman commented: “I have chosen to announce my retirement at this time as I wanted to give Goetz Eggelhoefer, our Chair of Trustees, plenty of time to find and appoint my successor. It is critical to find the right person to lead Hospice into the future.”
“My passion and commitment to Jersey Hospice Care and our amazing work on island remain huge and undimmed. We have achieved much in the last three years, and are in a stronger position, and I fully intend to bring a number of remaining opportunities and challenges to a satisfactory conclusion over the next nine or so months.”
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