On International Women’s Day (March 8th), President Carol Cookson, together with PA Chair Heather Shulver and member Maureen Ballard, joined members from SI Liverpool and SI Crosby on a visit to the new Royal Liverpool Hospital. The visit was organised by Sandy Taylor of SI Crosby and Angie from Liverpool University Hospital’s ‘R’ Charity.
The team were given a tour of the hospital and its superb facilities. This included a visit to Ward 8B, which provided exceptional palliative care under the terms of the SWAN Pathway. The tour ended with a buffet lunch in the restaurant on the 10th floor which provided panoramic views of the city.
After a very delayed project, it must be such a relief to be housed in a new, state of the art facility for both staff and patients. The whole building was well designed and provided shops, outdoor spaces, courtyard gardens, a spiritual area, restaurants and snack bars for staff and patients. When the old hospital is demolished, the area is to be landscaped and pleasant gardens are to be created.
In 2016, the three clubs raised £7,500 to contribute towards a ‘safe room’ for abused women within the hospital. The need was recognised and the hospital now has 5 fully furnished ‘safe rooms’, with donations provided by many sponsors and individuals. Notwithstanding, our funds are still available and it was tentatively decided to provide ‘Hug Packs’ for women who often arrived in A&E with nothing but the clothes they were wearing. Lynne Cottrell, SI Liverpool’s President, said they had completed and given out similar packs in the Liverpool Women’s Hospital. It was decided to source draw string bags with our logo on and, in consultation with the Charity, to decide the contents of the packs which could be adapted to fit different circumstances. This will be discussed further by the presidents of the three clubs, with Sandy and Angie.
