A hospice designed to help meet Norfolk's ever-growing need for end-of-life care has unveiled a new nine-bedroom inpatient unit for patients to spend their final days being cared for in dignity.
The Norfolk Hospice Tapping House moved from its previous base in Snettisham to a brand new £3.5m hospice in a more central location in Hillington, West Norfolk.
The move enabled it to provide more care and means the hospice is more easily accessible to patients, carers and volunteers.
It has now opened The Dr Hugh Ford Inpatient Unit - named after the hospice's founder - at the base to not only provide support and care to patients with a wide range of symptoms, but also give them the best possible quality of life.
As well as nine ensuite bedrooms, each room has its own private patio area with access to landscaped gardens and quiet pond area.
Each bedroom has wi-fi internet access and a television, with the hospice saying the rooms are 'designed to provide patients with privacy and dignity during their stay'.
Other features of the new unit include a multi-faith room and a large adapted bathroom.
The ward, led by consultant nurse Sue Barham, will care for patients in the last few weeks of life initially and then grow to accept patients with any life-shortening illness who are struggling with their symptoms.
The patients and their families will be cared for by a highly-trained nursing team, occupational therapist, physiotherapist, social worker and counselling teams.
The hospice has appointed nearby catering providers Edwards and Blake to provide a full catering service to patients, visitors and staff. The cafe will also be open to the public.
Lyndsay Carter, chief executive of The Norfolk Hospice Tapping House, said the opening of the new unit represented another milestone achieved for the hospice.
This would never have been possible without the hard work over many years from staff, volunteers, patients, patrons and the many hospice supporters, she said.
Maggie Carter, director of quality assurance at West Norfolk Clinical Commissioning Group - which is responsible for healthcare services in the borough and has contributed funding for the inpatient unit - said: 'WNCCG is delighted to support the new inpatient unit at The Norfolk Hospice Tapping House as part of our commitment to excellence in palliative and end of life care.
'The inpatient unit provides more choice to patients and will offer the highest standards of care and support to patients and their families.'
The hospice provides many services to patients including day therapies, hospice at home services, bereavement support and family support.
Referrals to the inpatient unit will be via health professionals only.
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