The city of Leeds is a beautiful city with a well-developed infrastructure. It has a large number of medical institutions. Today, we will talk about a unique medical facility — Martin House Children’s Hospice. This is a charitable organization that provides free hospice care to children and young people with incurable and serious illnesses in the Yorkshire region. Read more about this on the pages of ileeds.info.
What is a hospice?
Before telling you the story of this medical institution, let’s discuss what a hospice is. A hospice is a medical facility or program that provides comprehensive care to patients with incurable diseases in the terminal stage. While hospitals focus primarily on treatment, hospices concentrate on palliative care. Simply put — on relieving suffering and improving the quality of life for the patient and their family. It is important to note that hospice services include medical care, pain management, psychological, social, and spiritual support. Additionally, hospices provide round-the-clock care and connection with the family, offering the necessary support.
Furthermore, hospices create a home-like atmosphere where patients can feel safe and surrounded by care, which promotes restoration of inner peace. These institutions also pay attention to preparing for the final days of life, providing patients and their loved ones with essential support and comfort.
What is known about Martin House Children’s Hospice
The history of Martin House Children’s Hospice dates back to 1987. The hospice was officially opened by the Duchess of Kent. Since then, Martin House has become an important support center for over 550 children and their families annually.
Martin House Children’s Hospice offers a wide range of services: planned respite care, emergency assistance, symptom control, community care, end-of-life support, and help for families after the loss of a child. A distinctive feature is the family-oriented approach, which allows children to receive care both within the hospice and at home.
Overall, the hospice grounds are located in Boston Spa and cover 6 acres of landscaped gardens with socially inclusive playgrounds. The area is very beautiful and equipped with swings for children in wheelchairs, a carousel, water play areas. There are also nine specialized children’s bedrooms, eight family rooms, six bedrooms in the adjacent Whitby Lodge for teenagers and young people, as well as lounges, playrooms, a multisensory room, jacuzzi, library, and music room.
Regarding funding, the hospice costs about 9–10 million pounds sterling annually. Most of the funds come from voluntary donations and charitable events. The organization operates 24/7, 365 days a year, to be there for families during the most difficult moments.
Martin House Children’s Hospice is constantly developing, implementing new projects and upgrading infrastructure to provide the best care. Charitable initiatives, such as partnerships with Yorkshire Garden Centres, help raise the necessary funds to support this important mission.
Annually, Martin House Children’s Hospice provides care for over 550 children with serious and incurable illnesses. The main diagnoses among those under care include various genetic, neurological, and metabolic disorders, as well as severe chronic conditions requiring palliative care. The most common diagnoses are cerebral palsy, congenital developmental defects, severe forms of epilepsy, oncological diseases, and complex respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses.