Women who sadly experience an early pregnancy loss can
now be cared for in the privacy and comfort of a new Purple Butterfly room on
ward B11 at Rotherham Hospital.
Thanks to the public fundraising for the Rotherham
Hospital and Community Charity’s Purple
Butterfly Appeal and a month of extensive work by The Rotherham NHS
Foundation Trust’s Estates Team, the finishing touches are now being made to
the facilities.
The room will be used to care for women who experience early
pregnancy loss and also if a patient is receiving end of life care from the Gynaecology
team
Julie King, B11 Ward Manager, said: “It’s wonderful to
see the room is now almost complete. We feel really proud to be able to offer a
comforting, homely and private space for the families we care for.
“The room will help to protect the mental health and
wellbeing of parents who are already grieving the loss of their baby as they
will have their own space away from the busy ward providing privacy at this
difficult time. For patients who are on the end of life care pathway, the space
will also help families to be together when time is most precious.
“Having a room like this is important for colleagues at
the Trust too as it helps us to provide more compassionate care for our
families.”
B11’s Purple Butterfly room is the fourth funded by the
Purple Butterfly Appeal. The specialist rooms, which include a kitchenette, a
sofa bed, a private bathroom, a TV and ceiling lights, are also located on ward
A1, Fitzwilliam and the Labour Suite.
Furniture, toiletries, soft furnishings, artwork and
refreshments will be added to B11’s room in the next few weeks.
Martin Havenhand, Chairman of the Trust, said: “The
Purple Butterfly Appeal is the charity’s longest standing fundraising appeal
and we are incredibly grateful to everyone who has donated or fundraised in the
past 10 years. Your continued support is incredible. It means the charity is
able to continue to fund additional Purple Butterfly rooms like the one on B11
and to invest funds in the upkeep of our existing rooms.
“We hope the new facilities will bring some comfort to
families when they really need it the most.”
For more information about how you can continue to
fundraise for the Purple Butterfly Appeal in 2021, please get in touch with the
charity on trft.charity@nhs.net or
01709 426821. You can donate directly to the appeal via Just Giving - https://www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/rhcgc/purplebutterflyappeal