Arthur Rank Hospice Opens to Patients

The Arthur Rank Hospice has opened to patients after work has completed on the £10.5 million state-of-the-art Arthur Rank Hospice, a new 24-bed facility for the Cambridge based end of life care charity.

The Arthur Rank Hospice has opened to patients after work has completed on the £10.5 million state-of-the-art Arthur Rank Hospice, a new 24-bed facility for the Cambridge based end of life care charity. The larger building will serve families across Cambridgeshire and aims to address the regional demand for complex end of life care.

The 4,000sqm site incorporates a commercial kitchen, day facilities and an education centre to enable the hospice to train other healthcare professionals in good end of life care. The new hospice, constructed by Barnes Construction, also doubles the number of beds available at the current facility by 16 single rooms with en-suite facilities and two, four bedded bays which can be adapted into two single rooms when required.

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By 2025 it is estimated that the number of people who will have dementia in the UK will have reached 1 million. As the ageing population continues to increase, creating environments suitable for people suffering with dementia and other complex care needs is a major consideration which the design of the hospice reflects.

Dr Lynn Morgan, CEO of the Arthur Rank Hospice Charity said “It will make an enormous difference, there’s just so much space and so much light. For years our staff have delivered excellent care, although in order to do that they have had to work around the building we’ve had.

“This building works with them. The rooms are wider, the corridors are wider, and we can take more patients. We’ve got many more social rooms than we’ve ever had before.

“We’re really delighted, everyone who has seen the space is really wowed by it.”

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Louise Knights, Project Architect on the new Hospice added “The design team were greatly influenced and inspired by the passion and reputation of the people at the Arthur Rank Hospice, the determination of the fundraising team and the caring nature of the staff and volunteers.

The design of the Hospice meets the standards of a Hospital without feeling like one.  Lasting memories of loved ones are formed here so it’s important that the Hospice is a homely, calming and relaxing environment.

Internally the bedrooms will open into a large, double height communal space that will give patients, visitors and family an opportunity to come together. Every patient has a direct link to the outside which is essential to ensure that there are as many options for where patients can choose to spend their time. ”

Click here to read our blog on the 5 key things to get right when designing for end of life care.

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