Back in March, the first Swan Room opened on Creaton Ward at Northampton General Hospital to support patients receiving end-of-life care, and their relatives. Since the room opened, there has been an overwhelming amount of heart-warming feedback from the relatives of those who have been able to stay close to their loved ones during their final days and hours, away from the hustle and bustle of a busy ward.
At such a difficult and sad time, the environment and resources of this room are providing an enhanced experience that is making a huge difference to them. It has provided people with the time and space to say a proper goodbye. The Bluetooth speaker can be used to play a loved one’s favourite songs, or those that families always enjoyed together. The space can be utilised to put up family photos for a time, and so much more. In addition to the Bluetooth speaker, there is a comfortable memory foam chair, which can be opened out fully to rest/sleep on, there is a locker housing a number of other resources, including a phone charger; battery-operated candles; a small comfort pack containing toiletries; and a drinks station so that people can make themselves a hot drink without having to rely on the canteen or ward staff.
Kerry Messam, Deputy Lead Nurse for Palliative and End of Life Care at Northampton General Hospital said:
“The room offers a bespoke space to support not only the dying person but those important to them providing a less clinical environment. We hope that we will be able to collect feedback that will help support additional swan rooms within the trust.”
The initial Swan Room pilot project was funded thanks to a £3,500 grant from Northamptonshire Health Charity, which supports local NHS hospitals and community services across the county. Since the opening of that first room on Creaton, the charity has received a number of kind donations from relatives as they wish to say thank you for the opportunity of spending this quality time with their loved ones and help with funding other such rooms across the hospital so that many more families can benefit.
With thanks to a generous £3,266 donation from Brian Harding of Catalyst Land Solutions in memory of his lovely wife, Claire – a second Swan Room has already opened on Talbot Butler ward.
Rob Powell, Charity Fundraiser said:
“We’d like to say a big thank you to Brian for this beautiful gesture in memory of Claire that has enabled this second room to be completed. So many more patients and their families will now benefit from this at what is a difficult time.”
If you would like to make a donation to help the charity to continue funding enhancements to patient care and experience for the Palliative and End of Life team, or for any other ward or department at Northampton General, Kettering General or those under Northamptonshire Healthcare Foundation Trust please visit the Northamptonshire Health Charity website for more information.
