A New Chapter for Martin House Hospice
The redeveloped Martin House Hospice officially opened its doors on Friday 4th June, with ambassador Sir Gareth Southgate conducting the ribbon cutting ceremony.
Desco are proud to have provided the MEP services design for the refurbishment and new build extension to the existing children’s hospice.
Martin House Hospice was established in 1987 and is Yorkshire’s centre of excellence in paediatric palliative care – supporting children and young people with life-shortening conditions along with their families.
The scheme has modernised and expanded the hospice, adding specialist facilities including a hydrotherapy pool, immersive sensory room, recording studio and enhanced clinical areas.
The new £21.9m development comprises the following main areas;
The children’s wing – The new woodland themed children’s wing, consists of nine spacious ensuite bedrooms. Each room is equipped with piped oxygen and integrated hoists – two essential facilities which the current hospice lacked. More families will be able to stay together at Martin House as seven new parents’ bedrooms, two new family rooms and a quiet parents’ lounge. There is also a cooled bedroom where children are cared for after death, allowing families the time and space to say goodbye.
The teenage wing – An extended and refurbished space where teenagers can have more independence. More social space inside and out has been created, with a new orangery and ‘Love Island’ style courtyard with firepit chillout area. New-look bedrooms and ensuites were designed by the young adults using Martin House. There is an interactive den with sensory area, a gaming zone and recording studio. These spaces will give the teenagers the freedom they need to simply just be teenagers.
Family space – The extended hospice features larger family areas and facilities, including an enchanted forest themed playroom, a vibrant art room and bigger music rooms. There is a new kitchen hub, with a large open plan family lounge and dining room, and bi-fold doors leading to our extensive gardens.
The wellbeing centre – A new multi-sensory hydrotherapy pool allowing many families to swim together for the very first time, as well as helping to relieve pain and muscle spasms for the children in their care. New consulting and therapy rooms within the wellbeing centre enable more holistic care to be offered to children and families, along with a new state-of-the-art immersive sensory room, including a cinema wall, offers a place to relax.
The education centre – The new education centre will help the hospice stay at the forefront of paediatric palliative care, providing ongoing training to hospice staff and other health professionals. A simulation training room for immersive education, along with adaptable education space enables the hospice to deliver high-quality training courses to ensure children in their region receive the best possible palliative care.