Friends at Broomfield Hospital and Chelmsford Round Table gave £25,000 to the Dandelion Appeal, the fund also paying for end-of-life rooms at Southend Hospital.

A £25,000 donation has paid to transform five rooms for patients in their final days at Broomfield Hospital, through the same hospitals charity appeal that is funding end-of-life rooms at Southend Hospital.

Friends at Broomfield Hospital, with support from Chelmsford Round Table, gave the money to the Dandelion Appeal, run by Mid and South Essex Hospitals Charity. The appeal covers end-of-life care across Basildon, Broomfield and Southend hospitals, the three run by Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust.

Five side rooms on two wards

The money has been spent on five rooms on Broomfield’s care of the elderly ward and its specialist stroke ward, the trust said. They are dedicated side rooms, made more comfortable and welcoming for patients at the end of their lives, and they give relatives a quieter place to spend time together.

Members of the Friends were recently shown how the funding is being used by Debbie Boulden, the trust’s End-of-Life Lead Nurse. According to the trust, she explained the thinking behind the appeal and the importance of rooms where families can make memories together, supported by compassionate care.

Across the three hospitals, the appeal pays for overnight beds so loved ones can stay, recliner chairs, comforting wall art and other touches meant to make the rooms feel more like home.

The Broomfield gift follows a £30,181.49 donation from former Mayor of Southend Councillor Nigel Folkard last week, which is being spent at Southend Hospital. We reported on that donation and the rooms it is paying for here.

“Over 75 years”

Lucy Thomas-Clayton, Director of Charity and Voluntary Services at Mid and South Essex Hospitals Charity, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Friends at Broomfield and Chelmsford Round Table for their generous support of the Dandelion Appeal.

“Friends at Broomfield have been dedicated supporters of Broomfield Hospital for over 75 years. Their commitment continues to make a real and lasting difference to patients and families facing some of life’s most difficult moments.”

How to find out more

Details of the appeal, and how to give, are on the charity’s Dandelion Appeal page.