Running a hospice is one of the most demanding and meaningful roles in healthcare. Every day, teams balance the emotional weight of caring for patients and families with the practical challenges of managing resources, staff, and compliance. At Marra, we’ve seen first-hand how much dedication this takes, and how technology can help lighten the load. 

That’s why we created CareTrace, an activity tracking app designed specifically for hospices. CareTrace wasn’t born in a boardroom; it grew out of real conversations and case studies with hospices like Naomi House & Jacksplace and Rainbows Hospice. These organisations shared their struggles and aspirations, and we listened. 

Understanding The Challenge Hospices Face

Hospices operate in a unique environment. Unlike hospitals, they often rely on charitable funding and volunteer support, which means every pound and every hour counts. Yet, tracking staff and volunteer activity is often manual, fragmented, and time-consuming. This makes it hard to answer critical questions: 

• How are we using our resources day-to-day? 

• Where can we improve efficiency without compromising care? 

• How do we demonstrate impact to trustees and donors? 

Without clear data, decisions can feel like guesswork, and that’s stressful for senior leaders who want to ensure sustainability and quality of care. 

Listening and Learning

When we worked with Naomi House & Jacksplace and Rainbows Hospice, we saw a common theme: hospices need tools that respect their ethos of compassion while delivering practical business value. Leaders told us they wanted: 

• Visibility: A clear picture of how time and resources are spent. 

• Simplicity: A system that’s easy for staff and volunteers to use on the go. 

• Insight: Data that informs decisions and supports funding conversations. 

These insights shaped CareTrace from the ground up. 

 

What CareTrace Delivers

CareTrace is more than an app. It’s a partner in making hospice operations smoother and smarter. Here’s how it helps: 

• Real-Time Activity Tracking: Staff and volunteers can log tasks quickly, from anywhere to reduce paperwork and free up time for care. 

• Data-Driven Decisions: Leaders can see patterns, identify bottlenecks, and allocate resources effectively. 

• Evidence for Funders: Clear reports demonstrate impact, helping hospices secure vital support. 

By turning activity into actionable insight, CareTrace empowers hospices to focus on what matters most: caring for patients and families. 

Proven Impact: Rainbows Hospice Case Study

Rainbows Hospice faced the challenge of manually tracking outreach activities using spreadsheets, a process that consumed valuable time. With CareTrace, the transformation was dramatic: 

• Saved 2–3 hours per team member per week, totaling over 80 hours per month across the organisation. 

• Reduced administrative workload by two full days weekly through automated Power BI reporting. 

• Enabled real-time KPI reporting, improving decision-making and transparency for the board.  

As Anne-Marie Murkett, Head of Quality and Governance at Rainbows Hospice, put it:

“CareTrace has given us precise tracking of nursing activity, improved data quality, and empowered strategic decision-making. Every minute counts in palliative care, and this solution helps us make those minutes matter.”  

 

Why This Matters for Senior Leaders

Investing in technology can feel daunting, especially in a sector where every penny is precious. But CareTrace isn’t about replacing people, it’s about supporting them. When leaders have accurate data, they can: 

• Plan staffing with confidence. 

• Justify funding requests with evidence. 

• Reduce stress by knowing where improvements will make the biggest difference. 

Ultimately, CareTrace helps hospices build resilience for the future while staying true to their mission of compassionate care. 

 

Do You Want To Find Out More?

Hospices deserve tools that understand their world. CareTrace was created with empathy, shaped by real hospice experiences, and designed to deliver measurable value. If you’d like to explore how CareTrace can support your organisation, get in touch with us today.

Together, we can make the hard job of running a hospice a little easier.