{"id":14941,"date":"2025-04-16T11:20:26","date_gmt":"2025-04-16T10:20:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.crash.org.uk\/?post_type=projects&p=14941"},"modified":"2025-08-26T14:18:03","modified_gmt":"2025-08-26T13:18:03","slug":"improving-accessibility-creating-a-welcoming-environment-at-st-marys-hospice","status":"publish","type":"projects","link":"https:\/\/www.crash.org.uk\/news\/projects\/improving-accessibility-creating-a-welcoming-environment-at-st-marys-hospice\/","title":{"rendered":"Improving Accessibility Creating a Welcoming Environment at St Mary\u2019s Hospice"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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St Mary\u2019s Hospice<\/a> provides specialist palliative care for people with life-shortening conditions, including cancer, heart, lung, and neurological diseases. Supporting approximately 26,500 people each year, the hospice offers services such as inpatient care, complementary therapy, day hospice, and bereavement support.<\/p>\n

Covering both rural and urban areas, St Mary\u2019s reaches communities facing significant health and economic inequalities, including some of the most deprived areas in Barrow-in-Furness. With a focus on holistic, person-centred care, their dedicated team supports individuals and families through every stage of their journey.<\/p>\n

The need<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In 2021, it became clear that the reception area was outdated and did not offer the same level of care and consideration as St Mary’s Hospice clinical services.<\/p>\n

Consultations with staff, patients, and visitors highlighted key issues, including a lack of privacy, inefficient use of space, poor accessibility, and an unwelcoming atmosphere. One of the most pressing concerns was the absence of a private patient entrance, requiring patients to enter through a busy public area.<\/p>\n

St Mary’s Hospice reached out to CRASH to help with their essential redesign to transform the reception area into a warm, welcoming, and accessible place of comfort and reassurance for all.<\/p>\n

The project<\/strong><\/h3>\n

CRASH Corporate Patron, Arcadis<\/a> joined the initial visit and their project advisors produced a detailed report highlighting the hospice’s next steps.<\/p>\n

Additionally, CRASH Corporate Patrons, Gardiner & Theobald<\/a>, British Gypsum<\/a>, Kingspan Group <\/a>& Dulux Decorator Centre<\/a> and Support Altro<\/a> all supported with this project, providing pro bono or discounted materials and professional expertise.<\/p>\n

Dulux Decorator Centre worked with St Mary\u2019s Hospice to create a thoughtfully curated colour palette that reflected the warm, compassionate, and welcoming environment St Mary\u2019s aimed to provide for its service users and their families.<\/p>\n

The total Gift in Kind value for this project was \u00a3123,145, for professional expertise, pro bono products, discounted materials, including a grant provided by the generous support from the construction industry.<\/p>\n

The outcome<\/strong><\/h3>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n
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  • With the support of CRASH Patrons, we have created a welcoming and accessible area that truly reflects the care and compassion of St Mary\u2019s Hospice.<\/li>\n
  • The new dedicated private patient entrance now provides a more dignified and calming arrival experience for patients.<\/li>\n
  • Previously wasted areas have now been reconfigured to make better use of the space and include a new family room, an office for the Family Bereavement Support Team and a video conferencing room for the Clinical Team and quiet rooms for private conversations away from the main reception.<\/li>\n
  • While at the Hospice, CRASH Patrons took the opportunity to improve staff facilities. As a result, a much-needed staff room and quiet space have been introduced, giving staff a place to rest and reflect.<\/li>\n
  • The redesign has improved accessibility for people with dementia and includes visually impaired signage to ensure St Mary’s Hospice is welcoming to all.<\/li>\n
  • The changes have already made a significant difference, creating a more supportive and inclusive environment for patients, families, and staff.<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/section>\n\n\n
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    “The project has also had unexpected outcomes with a deeper relationship developing between Bob Sutcliffe of the Creative Health Trust resulting in not only creative support for the project but a grant towards creative therapy. There are also plans for Bob to deliver painting workshops as part of our staff wellbeing programme and to those engaged with our dementia services.”<\/p>\n

    These improvements ensure St Mary\u2019s Hospice remains a warm, accessible, and functional space, supporting the highest level of care for all who walk through our doors.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n

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