Press release

27 September 2012

Bishop opens new purpose designed palliative care unit in Gateshead

A NEW purpose designed unit offering palliative care for patients in Gateshead was officially opened yesterday.

St Bede’s Palliative Care Unit, now based at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Gateshead, was opened by The Right Reverend Mark Watts Bryant, Bishop of Jarrow yesterday afternoon.

The unit has eight single en-suite rooms and one two bedded en-suite room looking onto a garden area. The unit provides care for palliative patients at various stages of their illness providing symptom management as well as end of life care.

Previously the unit was based at Dunston Hill Hospital. However following extensive refurbishment of the Elmwood Building, the service now benefits from a purpose designed environment.

Liz Lough, sister on the unit, said: “Palliative care is as much about living and celebrating life so the unit can also be a place of laughter where families and loved ones spend precious time together. The high standard of care we provide hasn’t changed but the new unit is light and airy and very much has a home from home feel about it. Just being able to have windows and doors open and look onto the garden areas has benefits for patients, especially those with breathing difficulties.

“We know that our patients and their families really appreciate these surroundings in being able to spend some precious moments with their loved ones. We also have a sitting area and can provide overnight accommodation for families and a quiet room for relatives when they need a break from the emotional intensity that these situations can create for people.”

Bishop Mark added: “As we are made in God’s image, I believe that all human life is infinitely precious. Sometimes people don’t always have the experience of being treated like this during their lives. So I think it’s wonderful that people in Gateshead have a place where they can come and be treated with such exquisite care as they come to the end of their lives. “

ENDS

Information for editors

Photo Caption left to right

  • Rt Revd Mark Bryant, Bishop of Jarrow
  • Julia Hickey, Chairman Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust
  • Ian Renwick, Chief Executive Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust
  • Liz Lough, Unit Manager of St Bede’s palliative care unit at Queen Elizabeth Hospital

For further information please contact:

Kerri James

Communications Officer | Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust

T: 0191 445 3561 | M: 079 444 91856 | E: