Milton’s newly-refurbished family accommodation will have a “vital” impact on parents’ wellbeing, according to East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) Service Manager Mike Higgins.
The area has just been given a major revamp, having been stripped back for a full renovation and refurbishment. The project has been overseen and managed by Kelling Designs, working alongside Munro Building Services.
Depending on circumstances, families can spend several weeks staying at the hospice, especially for end-of-life care.
Some parents prefer to stay with their child, on the care floor. Others enjoy using the family accommodation as a space that allows them to maintain a degree of normality and routine – especially important if the child receiving care has young siblings.
“Some families have likened the accommodation to a hotel, given the relaxed, homely feel of it,” said Mike, who was speaking during Children’s Hospice Week – a week dedicated to raising awareness and funds for children’s hospice and palliative care services across the UK. It started on Monday and runs until Sunday.
“It’s a place where they won’t hear the beeps and buzzers of the machinery on the care floor. They can escape that cacophony of noise and being away from the care floor gives them a degree of separation, while only being a moment away if needed.
“A couple of years ago, I remember one parent dropping off their child and saying how tired they were. They could barely keep their eyes open.
“She said she was going to pop upstairs, have a rest and be down in a couple of hours.
“A couple of hours turned into seven or eight and seven or eight turned into 24.
“Of course, someone went in to check on her, but she ended up sleeping for 36 hours. She came in on the Friday night and effectively slept until the Sunday lunchtime.
“That’s how exhausted and sleep-deprived she was, and she needed time to recharge her batteries so she could carry on.
“It shows the physical and mental strain some parents are under and why it’s so important to have a place like our family accommodation. It’s vital for their wellbeing.
“As well as being somewhere to rest and escape, they can also do practical things like eat meals and wash clothes.
“That’s especially important when it’s for end-of-life care and the family are here with us for a long period.”
Mike is understandably thrilled with the area’s bright new look.
“While always clean, tidy, presentable and perfectly serviceable, the family accommodation was undoubtedly looking quite tired and dated, in terms of décor,” he said.
“It was crying out for some love, and we needed to make it more fresh and modern, because it’s important for this area to be fully up to spec.
“I’ve been excited to reach this point, having seen the initial proposed drawings.
“It’s lovely and a great addition to the site, as well as being long overdue.
“It’s the first step towards helping our hospice become more modern, in terms of the care we deliver.
“Munro Building Services, our contractors, have been fantastic and so professional and respectful. It’s a great organisation, and we’re very grateful for the quality of work they’ve delivered.
“In addition, the people and companies that have donated materials have gone above and beyond and need to be recognised. We’re very thankful.”
EACH’s Head of Facilities, Lyle Musson, has overseen the project and been delighted to watch developments unfold. He believes the finished project represents a major improvement.
“What we had before was useable and fit-for-purpose,” he said.
“However, it was undoubtedly dated, cold and certainly not as comfortable as we’d have liked for families.
“That’s why we pushed for this project, and we’re so grateful for all the help and support we’ve received along the way.
“Everything was stripped back for a full renovation and refurbishment, as opposed to just redecoration and refurnishing.
“It’s important to stress that, because it was much more than a touch-up project.
“The three family bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchen have been upgraded, and there was structural work, including replacing the windows.
“Before, they were single-glazed wooden frames, but now they’ve been changed to double-glazed units, meaning greater heat retention and a cosy feel.
“We’ve also repainted everywhere and replaced all the furniture, which previously had a flat-pack look or was wood veneer and didn’t quite match.
“It looked quite sterile and dated and wasn’t the most inviting, whereas now, thanks to the interior design aspect of the project, it’s so much nicer and cosier.
“It has a boutique-look, like you’d find in a hotel, while obviously maintaining certain elements we had to keep in place.
“We’ve tried to think of everything, to ensure it looks less industrial and sterile and more homely.
“Basically, the whole area is as new as we can possibly make it, given the type and age of the building.”
Most importantly, Lyle is pleased to think of the positive impact the changes will have on families staying at Milton.
He said: “It’s been very satisfying to see the improvement and also being in a position to help drive that change.
“There’s a strong wellbeing aspect for families, because the area gives them somewhere to escape to, away from the care floor.
“It allows them to step back and gives them a place to be in their own headspace.
“It was definitely overdue, and it’s only been possible thanks to Kelling Designs.
“We’re also so grateful to all the companies, contractors and suppliers that have helped us along the way.
“Lots of packages have arrived and these things really aren’t cheap.
“We’ve made massive savings and are so grateful. The business and specialist interior design communities have been so supportive and a great help.
“Everyone’s strived to do their very best, and it’s been a pleasure to work alongside them and others on this amazing project.”
To see a full list of the companies that generously gave their time, donated or offered favourable rates to support the project, click here.
