Published on: 19 February 2025
Arbury Lodge at George Eliot Hospital has received a generous donation of a relatives’ bed to say ‘thank you’ from a family for the care their mum received at the end of her life.
Jeanette Barton passed away on the ward in December 2024, with her family by her side. After the excellent care they experienced they wanted to make sure other families have the same opportunity and decided to donate a bed after noticing that the ward was raising funds through a raffle to purchase a new relatives' bed.
Matthew Barton, Jeanette’s son said: "During my mum’s time on the ward, I saw the amazing care that the whole team brought to her and to us as a family. Being able to be with my mum in her final days made a huge difference to us all.
“I really do hope the bed gets a lot of use in the ward. Giving one more guest bed allows families to stay with their loved ones at the end of their life, just as we did with our mum.
“We want to all say a huge ‘thank you’ to the whole team who cared for our mum. Nothing was too much, they are all amazing.”
Arbury Lodge specialises in caring for patients with complex discharge needs as well as those at the end of their life.
The newly-donated bed will allow families to remain close to their loved ones, offering them a place to rest overnight while staying on the ward.
Ward Manager at Arbury Lodge, Suzanne Blakeman, expressed deep appreciation for the donation: "We are truly grateful to the Barton family for their incredible generosity.
“This donation will provide comfort to so many families who are going through one of the toughest times in their lives. It’s a wonderful example of how a simple act of kindness can have a profound impact."