TWO rooms where the loved ones of patients who are nearing the end of life can take a break have opened at the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch.

The Peony rooms provide a quiet and calm space to take a break away from the busy ward environment, rest, reflect and have some refreshments.

The development of the rooms is part of a wider initiative launched by the Palliative and End of life Care team at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust named the SUPPORT initiative which focuses on making relatives and friends experience easier, from providing comfort care packs to dedicated spaces.

On the opening of the rooms, Avril Adams, lead nurse of the specialist palliative and end-of-life care team said: “We are delighted to be able to introduce the new rooms at the Alexandra Hospital for the relatives of some of our seriously ill patients.

“Death and dying is very difficult to deal with, but helping patients and those people important to them at their time of greatest need is hugely important to us.

"Our patients often worry about how their loved ones are coping even when they are receiving treatment and we hope providing holistic care for people most important to them will bring our patients great comfort.”

Sarah Shingler, chief nursing officer at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust added: “This is yet another fantastic example of ways our staff focus on offering the best possible care to our patients and their loved ones”.

The rooms have opened thanks to support from Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Charity, the dedicated charity of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust. The team helped to furnish the rooms and provide refreshments for relatives and loved ones.

Sophie Burt, head of fundraising and community development for Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Charity, added: “We are thrilled that we are able to support such a fantastic project again, which not only focuses on putting patients first but also helps to improve the experience of the people most important to them.