A very generous donation to Weldmar Hospicecare has led to the creation of a new family room at our Inpatient Unit in Dorchester, and a refurbishment of all patient bays and rooms.
Marion’s Room has been officially opened by Bob Haddad, whose wife Marion was cared for at the hospice for two weeks in 2013.
The new room features a dining area, a large television and sofas, its own kitchen facilities, bathroom, and will allow family members to stay with loved ones in more comfort. It includes both a patient and visitor bed which can be connected together to create a double bed to allow for a couple and families to be even closer together if needed and the room also has a sofa bed so additional family members can stay too.
Double doors lead out onto a patio, and access to the gardens outside our Orangery restaurant. Some younger children find visiting a hospice an unsettling experience and Marion’s Room can be accessed by its own entrance from outside so they do not need to enter other parts of the building if they are uncomfortable.
Mr Haddad said he’s extremely proud of the new room. “I think it’s a step change in the wonderful care that was already being provided by Weldmar. This additional facility does make it possible for whole families to be close together at very challenging times. Marion felt very safe here, was cared for in a wonderful way. I’m overjoyed with the result!”
Senior Sister Emma Mills says, “It’s been fantastic, and although we’ve cut the ribbon today to officially open Marion’s Room, it has been used by a number of families already. I can’t imagine how we coped without it, to be honest, because it has made such a difference. Families are able to spend time together in even more comfort, and it’s been particularly good for younger families when children have come in for film nights, for example. It’s also helped us to be really flexible with families during the last few months where Covid measures have still been in place.”
The donation by Mr Haddad also meant that the remainder of the Inpatient Unit could be refurbished, with new flooring throughout the patient bays, rooms, and corridors, walls have been decorated, areas around beds have been improved and the new modern look provides a warm and welcoming homely environment to both patients and visitors. The hospice remained open throughout the works.
Caroline Hamblett, Weldmar Hospicecare CEO, says, “Without Bob’s generous gift, we would have made only minor changes to the decor in the IPU. His very kind donation gave us a real opportunity to transform the IPU for the benefit of patients, visitors and staff, both now and for many years to come.”
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