BLOG: A bedtime story with a difference

St Luke’s is renowned for going the extra mile for our patients and their families, and we have long been respected for the way we innovate to meet their needs.

Now we are the first hospice in the UK to embrace the new ‘cuddle bed’ that is both helping patients safely receive the care they need and find comfort and solace in the arms of those they hold dear.

At the touch of a button, the special bed, which was installed earlier this month at our specialist unit at Turnchapel, expands from a space-saving single into a comfortable double so a patient can be close to their partner and not separated because of their condition. It also means the young families we support can snuggle up together and enjoy cuddles that are precious beyond words.

Nicola Pereira, Head of Inpatient Nursing Services at St Luke’s, said: “We have always tried to provide the best care we can and go that bit further for the patients we care for. I always imagine a couple who have shared a bed for their entire married life – once one becomes unwell and needs care they have to be nursed in a single bed. What a privilege to be able to offer that couple the opportunity to share a bed once more, and even more special at the end of life.”

This fantastic addition to our specialist unit has been made possible thanks to the kindness of those who keep our charity close to their hearts. We’ll share the inspirational story behind their fundraising later this year and, in the meantime, they’ll know that they’re bringing comfort to other families and helping them make every moment count when time is running short.