| Maidenhead Rotary Club president Mary Spinks was given a tour of Thames Hospice last week to see how Rotarians have contributed to the purpose-built new facility. Maidenhead is one of several Rotary clubs sponsoring the Family Courtyard and the Bereavement Garden at the site near Bray Lake. It has committed £2,500 of funding to the project and has previously helped to provide garden furniture for the Family Courtyard. Mary, a former director of the Florence Nightingale Foundation who was made a CBE for a lifetime of service to nursing, was a trustee of the hospice when fundraising began for the move from its original home at Pine Lodge, Windsor. “My visit was an emotional one, having been involved at the beginning to ensure funds were raised to build a new 28-bed hospice to replace the one in Windsor that was no longer fit for purpose,” said Mary. “Touring this beautiful new building overlooking Bray Lake convinced me it was a great success as a one-stop facility for out-patients and in-patients from the beginning of when care is required.” Mary, who was joined on the tour by fellow Rotarians Tony and Cathie Lodge, added: “The facilities are very well designed as well as functional, with the patient and family centre stage at all times. We visited the wonderful peaceful garden to which our Rotary Club had contributed.” The new hospice, which opened its doors in October last year, provides expert care for people living with life-limiting illnesses in East Berkshire and South Bucks. As well as in-patient care, it offers day care, counselling, and complementary therapies while a family support team helps the children of patients. Other facilities include an education centre for both hospice staff and care workers from other organisations, while the Palliative Community Response Team provides round-the-clock help and support to patients at home. |  President Mary Spinks in one of the gardens sponsored by the club.  Looking out on the Family Courtyard from the family support room. The site also hosts a shop and community cafe, which the public are encouraged to visit to learn more about the hospice and help raise much-needed funds. It costs more than £10million a year to run the hospice, 49 per cent of which is met through statutory funding. The rest comes from a massive ongoing fundraising effort. Mary added: “Anyone donating to keep this facility running can be assured their donation is very worthwhile.” |
To support the Hospice visit https://thameshospice.org.uk/
Below: Views of the Family Courtyard.
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