A new residential lounge and dining space for families will improve the palliative care experience at Braeside Hospital by adding a home-like space for patients, carers and loved ones with views of landscaped gardens.
The Braeside Family Room was made possible by a $250,000 grant from the NSW Government matched by a $250,000 bequest from the HammondCare Foundation.
Braeside Hospital at Prairiewood, in Sydney’s southwest, offers comprehensive support for patients diagnosed with a life-limiting illness.
Ingrid Winter, 55, whose mum Nubbia Munoz has been a palliative care patient with Braeside for several months, said the room certainly be a great benefit as families like hers cope with the end-of-life process.
“The family room idea is really wonderful,” she said.
“There is certainly a need for a space life this where families and patients can have some time out way from all the hospital activity and just be together.”
HammondCare CEO Mike Baird and HammondCare General Manager Health & Palliative Care Andrew Montague joined South Western Sydney Local Health District Acting Chief Executive Brenda Gillard and State MP for Prospect Hugh McDermott, Parliamentary Secretary to the Attorney General, to officially open the Braeside Family Room today.
The HammondCare Foundation funds were part of the estate of Alma Harding, who passed away in 1987, and her daughter Ann Harding, who passed away in 2020.
Mr Baird welcomed the grant from the South Western Sydney Local Health District and the positive impact it will have for many years to come for patients.
“HammondCare believes quality palliative care tailored to meet the needs of the individual should be available to everyone,” Mr Baird said.
“We want to see this room as a place where lasting, final memories will be made.”
Braeside Hospital was awarded funding under NSW Health’s $10 million palliative care funding program to do minor capital works or refurbishments to create more home-like environments for palliative care patients and their families and carers.
“Improving the quality of services of people going through palliative care and their families is a priority for NSW Health,” Ms Gillard said.
“The environment where patients receive palliative care and spend time with their families and carers is so important during a very difficult time.”
The refurbished room will have space for up to 12 family members to enable them to share a meal, socialise and talk in private separate to the clinical ward. The room is designed for a hospital bed to be wheeled in.
There will also be activities for children with toys and outdoor areas.
Braeside Hospital Nurse Unit Manager, Sanam Nghi, said the room had been designed to offer a serene environment where families “can gather, find respite and share precious moments”.
“In this room, we see more than just bricks and mortar – we see the embodiment of our community’s compassion and unity,” Ms Nghi said.