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Hospice celebrates refurbished bathrooms and patient areas

20 June 2011

Saint Francis Hospice celebrated the opening of newly refurbished bathrooms and patient areas which have been completed thanks to a £346,000 grant from the Department of Health.

Representatives of the companies involved with the changes were invited into the hospice yesterday, to enjoy cream tea, and to be thanked, along with the hospice staff, for their hard work.

The Havering-atte-Bower based hospice was one of 116 hospices from across England awarded a grant last year, specifically to enhance care for patients and families by improving the physical environment of the hospice.

The work took place over a 14 week period, with the contractors working to a strict deadline to ensure minimal disruption to patients and staff.

The changes have included installing modern equipment into the bathrooms, fitting hoists and specialist baths to ease the use of the facilities for both patients and nurses. Basins can be height adjusted, there are rails to ease mobility, and the decor has been updated to ensure the rooms can be kept as clean and hygienic as possible – as well as looking fresh, benefiting the patients’ experience. 

Ward Manager Sue Lakey said: “The changes will make a huge difference to both nurses and patients.  Each bathroom now offers slightly different equipment, so there is a choice for patients and staff to ensure the right bathroom is available for the patient’s specific needs. The rooms are bright and airy, providing a lovely environment for everyone, and they allow us to be adaptable and flexible.”

Another grant of £9,100 was awarded from St James Place, specifically for the refurbishment of the children’s rooms provided in the hospice. A locker room was redesigned as a family therapy space, for use by the Children and Family Therapist, Dee Gardner. She will use the brightly coloured room to work with children and young people, using creative methods such as sand trays and painting to help them express their emotions and cope with their bereavement. The family lounge was also refurbished, providing toys and games for young children, and a sofa bed for families who wish to stay overnight. 

“We are thrilled with the results of the work,” said Val Harding, the Supports Service Manager, who co-ordinated the project. “This one-off grant was wonderful news as it has enabled us to make improvements to key patient areas of the hospice without having to spend any of the money donated to us by our local community. We are confident that patients will find the environment uplifting and modern, suiting their individual needs, and giving them more dignity and privacy.”

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said:

“Hospices make an immense contribution in providing compassionate, quality care for people at the end of life. This is why the £40 million hospice capital grant scheme was so vital.

“I am delighted about the major improvements this funding has made possible at hospices across England. It is clear that the well being of patients and their loved ones has been at the heart of these refurbishments.”
 

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