A HOSPICE that provides palliative care for people in Radnorshire and Herefordshire has put forward plans for a major re-development which would see more beds, and all single-bedded accommodation for patients.
The Hereford based St Michael’s Hospice has lodged development plans with the city authorities which would significantly enhance both the quality of care provided, and increase the number of patients it can accommodate at one time.
Chief Executive of the hospice, Nicky West said: “While our medical and nursing care is second to none, we believe that we can significantly enhance both patients’ and relatives’ experience of St Michael’s treatment through the proposed development.”
Mrs West said that currently the Hospice has four single-bedded rooms and three four-bedded wards which inevitably led to situations where patients might be in their final few hours of life, but in the presence of three other patients and their visitors.
“What we are now proposing is that all in-patient care should be carried out in the privacy of single-bedded accommodation with adequate space for effective medical and nursing care, and when appropriate the overnight presence of loved ones,” said Mrs West, “This development will carry us forward to a significantly higher level in the provision of care within our community for people in need of palliative treatment, often at their life’s end.”