Care packs launched to compliment upgrade of MRH hospice suites
There was a great sense of achievement down in Mullingar Hospital last Tuesday as the volunteers of North Westmeath Hospice proudly presented the care boxes for palliative care patients at the hospital.
Margaret Claffey, chairperson, was happy to see their goal come to fruition. “It’s hard work, practically nine months to get it up and get all the contents.
“We had to decide what we wanted in it first of all, and then to get the wonderful sponsorship that we had, so all in all, it’s great. We’re launching it today and hopefully it’ll be a success.”
The care packages are prepared for patients who might not have the necessities they need while receiving palliative care. The boxes are tied with bows and contain things like toothpaste, lip balm, moisturisers and other toiletries.
There were also eyemasks, for patients who want to sleep find the rooms too bright.
The group were fundraising through the Mullingar and Delvin committees.
The volunteers also used the funds to upgrade the Level 2 Suites in the area. Two in Mullingar Hospital, the ‘Ciuin Suites’, and two at the St Camillus Nursing Centre.
“Today we’re launching the upgrading of the two palliative care suites here at the hospital that we’re very lucky to have,” said Veronica Larkin, member of the North Westmeath Hospice committee.
“The other thing is we’re launching a care box which the hospice team put together and the contents are sponsored by local businesses.”
The two rooms have been made more comfortable for the residents, suites include kitchenettes and toilets and now have had a complete makeover.
Dr Pauline Kane is the palliative care consultant at Mullingar Hospital, and for her the work the North Westmeath Hospice Group has done is more than welcome. “It’s wonderful, we really want to thank the hospice group for all their work and their enthusiasm around renovating the two Ciuin Suite rooms.
“We would use them on a daily basis for people coming in for symptom control or end of life care.
“Now, thanks to their input and support, it’s like a home from home, the rooms are beautiful and we’ve had so many compliments from patients and their families since the renovation was completed just before Christmas.
“We’re really looking forward to showing them the rooms now and they can see how pretty they are, and the boxes too are such a lovely touch.
“People are finding themselves in really horrible stressful situations and then to get a little care box, it’s really touching so it’s wonderful to have such great support with all the volunteers.
“We talked about this a year ago and it took a while, as we had to get approvals.
“Then once the hospital themselves are very supportive and they’re always enthusiastic about the two rooms.
“It got done quite quickly then over a number of weeks the whole project then was completed and we started using them just before Christmas.”
The design and finish were created and executed by the Palliative Care teams and the technical service staff at both locations. Consultation with patients and families was part of that process. All four rooms have an aura of calm and tranquility.
The care packages were sponsored by local groups and businesses such as Mullingar and District Soroptimists, Mullingar Pharmacy, Pharmed Ltd and Whelehans Pharmacy.