FAMILIES and friends of palliative care patients at Inverell Hospital have received a gift to alleviate some of the stress at a challenging time.
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The Inverell Breast Cancer Support Group has supplied the specialised-care room with two comfortable lounges, one of which pulls out to a queen-sized bed. A new day/night blind has been installed to allow for adjustable and efficient lighting.
“This room is very important to our group,” said group president, Jan O’Neill.
Group member, Marie Tanner said dealings with the palliative care unit had touched her life and she understood the pressure of that time.
“You don’t have to go to a motel, somebody’s home,” she said.
Hamish Yeates is the current Nurse Unit Manager, soon to be the hospital’s Acting Service Manager. He said the new seating could now offer good-sized families some options to be present with the patient, especially at the most difficult times.
“You can spend those hours with your loved one, because when someone’s getting close to dying then it’s important for the loved ones to spend that time, a bit of quiet time,” Mr Yeates said.
“And sometimes, it’s a 12 o’clock at night when you have the most beneficial time with someone, and so we are very open to people staying here and staying with their loved ones.
“But these ladies have really done an amazing job in raising money and funds for the hospital and for breast cancer.”
Ms O’Neill and Ms Tanner both emphasized though the group is focussed on breast cancer patients, the new additions to the palliative care unit were meant for any local person and their family who used the room.