Regional President Sandy Taylor organised a special event for local Soroptimists at the new Royal Liverpool University Hospital to celebrate International Women’s Day.
Representatives from Soroptimist clubs in Bootle, Crosby, Liverpool and Southport (including Presidents and Programme Action Officers) had the opportunity to find out more about the facilities, many of which are still in the planning stage.
In particular, there will be rooms for patients who have undergone a traumatic experience (such as female genital mutilation) or who are facing bad news.
These sanctuary (or ‘crisis’) rooms would be very basic. However, members of the four Merseyside clubs have the opportunity to provide extra facilities in terms of comfort and décor, which distressed patients would really appreciate.
President Sandy said: “This is an excellent opportunity for the local Soroptimist clubs to work together. In partnership with the hospital’s ‘R Charity’ we could provide something of lasting value to patients – and vulnerable women in particular. I am delighted that members in the four clubs have agreed to support this project.
“The delegates were ‘royally’ looked after on the day – the celebration cake was a lovely surprise – and we saw much of the new development.
“The hospital is currently a building site, and hard hats were mandatory. So I hope our Federation President Margaret Emsley, who is an engineer, approves of the line-up!”