Refurbished bereavement room at St Cross

Date 9^th May 2014

A team from the Rugby Branch of The Coventry got together with The Friends of St Cross to transform a dull admin office in the hospital into a lounge where recently bereaved relatives can meet hospital staff to receive personal effects and be advised on the relevant formalities.

The room was painted by six local staff from The Coventry and The Friends funded the carpeting, new furniture and wall decorations.

Staff in the hospital were invited to propose a name for the room and the team from the Coventry picked their favourite - the Sunflower Room was suggested by Kay Holleran, Emergency Nurse Practitioner. Kay said “my inspiration for the name came from yellow being my favourite colour and I felt that a sunny and bright feel to the room would be uplifting at a time of bereavement."

Juliet Starkey, Group Manager at St Cross said “ I like many staff in the hospital, live in the town and we are  also patients from time to time. So we truly appreciate all the support from the community who give to the hospital through The Friends. This room will make a great difference to the atmosphere in which relatives and staff meet at a difficult time".

Sarah Marks, Rugby Branch Manager of The Coventry, said "being part of the community is a core value of The Coventry and so we were delighted to help with this project which was great fun and a new extension of the way in which we support the great work done by The Friends of St Cross."
 

Pictured are (l-r) Kay Holleran,  Juliet Starkey, Group Manager at St Cross, Heather Green, Chairperson of The Friends and Michelle Plumb, Community Champion from The Coventry.

Pictures by George Ballard, Friends Volunteer and member of Dunchurch Photographic Society