A hi-tech smart room for patients living with a progressive illness has been opened at St Elizabeth Hospice – thanks to a generous donation from the Suffolk-based Jude Brady Foundation.
The room at the Inpatient Unit at the Hospice in Foxhall Road, Ipswich, has been equipped with state-of-the art remote controlled equipment to enable young patients with physical limitations to remain independent as they can operate them without asking for nursing help.
The facility – called a Possum SMART room – was made possible due to a donation of £5,000 from The Jude Brady Foundation, which was set up to raise awareness of stillbirth and support causes related to children and young people in Suffolk and North Essex.
The room will help young patients aged 14 -18 adjust to adult Hospice services and benefit from respite as well as providing support for older patients with neurological conditions.
With just a touch of a button or screen, patients can:
- control their immediate environment, such as lighting and temperature
- change the TV channel
- open or close curtains
- communicate easily with carers, friends and relatives
- call staff for help
Peter Brady, of the Jude Brady Foundation, said:
“Our decision to fund the Possum Room supports the Hospice to provide capital funding to help children aged 14 to 18 make the transition from children’s services to adult hospice care. We are delighted to be able to support the Hospice in the work they are doing to improve the quality of life and lessen anxiety for young patients in particular.”
Jo Whiting, of St Elizabeth Hospice, said:
“St Elizabeth Hospice costs £8.7m a year to provide services free of charge and we rely on the generosity of local people and organisations to fund the majority of these costs.
“This generous donation of capital funding from the Jude Brady Foundation has enabled us to provide something extra, a room which will make a difference to young patients’ lives now and in the future. We are incredibly grateful for this support.”
The room was officially opened on Tuesday 7th May by Hospice patient Terry Roberts, of Somersham, and former Radio One and Kiss FM DJ Spoony (Johnathan Joseph) who is a patron of the Jude Brady Foundation.
Since 2008 St Elizabeth Hospice has been able to provide care for 14-18 year olds and the Possum room will improve the quality of life and lessen the anxiety felt by many children who need to be admitted to St Elizabeth Hospice.
The Jude Brady Foundation was set up in 2008 in memory of Peter and Lynn Brady’s second son Jude who was stillborn in 2006. The Ipswich-based Foundation exists to create a lasting legacy to their son.
The foundation’s main priorities are to raise awareness of stillbirth and neonatal death and funds child- related good causes in Suffolk and North Essex.
To find out more about the Jude Brady Foundation visit www.judebradyfoundation.co.uk