BRITAIN'S NEWEST CHILDREN'S HOSPICE OPENS ITS DOORS
Friday 19th September was a very special day for Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice as they opened the doors to the first two children and their families.
Bluebell Wood has been providing its Hospice in the Home service for over 2 and a half years but opening the first two beds is a real milestone.
Bluebell Wood provides a full package of care for the children and their families. The hospice is a home from home environment where the children can benefit from therapy rooms such as the sensory room, soft play, messy play, Jacuzzi and music room. Parents also have the time to relax knowing that there is full time medical support for their child.
The first person to use the hospice was Jonathan Whitaker, 18, and his family. Jonathan’s mum and dad, David and Sally, give round the clock care to Jonathan and their weekend in the hospice gave them the chance to have their first break in nine years.
Jonathan has been using Bluebell Wood’s Hospice in the Home service for the past few years and has built up a close relationship with the care team.
Shona Tutin, Bluebell Wood’s Head of Care, said “The Hospice in the Home service, which we have been providing has really made a difference to the lives of these families but the opening of the building is the beginning of a new era.
“Bluebell Wood provides a full package of care for the children including a family focussed service. The hospice itself gives the families the chance to have a proper break knowing that there is full time support as well as giving them chance to use the fantastic facilities.”
The hospice, which has eight beds in total, will carry out a phased opening until all of the eight bedrooms are fully open.
Children with life limiting and life threatening illnesses and the families from all over South Yorkshire and the North Midlands with life threatening and life limiting illnesses can benefit from the care the hospice provides.
Bluebell Wood, which is free for families to use, has cost £4million to build and kit out. The fundraising doesn’t stop there though as it costs £2.4million to run the hospice every year. With less than 5% of this coming from the Government, the support and generosity of the local community is vital to our success.
www.bluebellwood.org