SAINT TERESA'S HOSPICE RECEIVES DONATION FOR FAMILY ROOM.
Thursday, February 11, 2010, 00:25
Assistant Hospitaller, Confrère Michael Seed OLJ, visited Saint Teresa’s Hospice, Darlington, to hand over a £2,742.39 cheque from the Saint Lazarus Hospice Association tfor the furnishing of the In-Patient Unit relatives’ room. This project was identified as a priority between Jane Bradshaw, Chief Executive, and Ann Barber, whose husband Chris Barber a local police officer passed away there last year.
The In-Patient Unit has been the subject of a substantial refit, with the In-Patients relatives’ room being redecorated, but with no remaining funds for its furnishing. The Hospitaller Department of the Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem reviewed the application at its January meeting, and following its recommendation, was approved by the Hospice Association for funding.
Lucille Bradshaw, Trusts Officer, wrote: “Many relatives have long distances to travel and need somewhere to have a break in comfort, and maybe eat a meal provided by the Hospice; it's important to be able to take a short break from visiting which can be hugely emotionally tiring for both patients & visitors.
“Also, sometimes people wish to stay overnight if their loved one is nearing the end of life, or to save them having to drive long distances.
“The acquisition of a notebook computer would mean that we can offer added communications possibilities to patients and visitors. The notebook computer is to use in patients' rooms. At present the network is being upgraded to allow for this.
“The room we are looking to refurbish is currently designated as a relative's room but at the moment there is pretty much nothing in it - there is a bookcase propped up by books, and we borrowed an old table and chairs over Christmas from our Warehouse (stock for our charity shop). The room was decorated last year along with other rooms in the In Patient Unit, so the room is ready to be equipped when we can get appropriate furniture and equipment.
“There is also a staff room which the staff sometimes step out of in order to allow relatives to use it, but obviously this inconvenient and can interfere with the running of the unit.”
The funds are being used to purchase a stacking armchair, drop leaf table, tub chairs, side tables, table lamps, and sofa bed. Two notebook computers for the use of in-patients have been very kindly donated by staff from the Institute of Cancer, Bart’s and the Royal London School of Medicine (see separate news item), through the Saint Lazarus Hospice Association.
St. Teresa's Hospice has been based in Woodlands House (built 1815) since February 1999. The In-Patient Unit was refurbished again in 2009. The Woodlands is the base for all of the Hospice's activities, which reach out across South Durham and North Yorkshire, providing free specialist help for patients and carers, via:-
Hospice at Home, Day Care, In-Patient Unit, Therapeutic Facilities, Complementary Therapies, Counselling and Befriending.
For more information on Saint Teresa’s Hospice please see the link.
For fundraising and Hospice Projects see the nearest
Commandery (link) or the
Vice Chancellor (link) who will direct you to the appropriate Officer.
