Much anticipated Whānau room to open at Lakes District Hospital

On-site accommodation for family of loved ones receiving treatment or admitted for short-term acute care at Lakes District Hospital will soon be available.

A new whānau room will open tomorrow, containing a kitchenette, a king-single bed, a trundle single bed and a pull-out sofa as a double bed.

“The room provides a welcome option for accommodation when people need to be near a loved one on the hospital ward,” says Emily Nelson, the Hospital’s Operations Manager. “Having a self-contained studio space will also allow families greater privacy as they support their loved one.”

The whānau room has been funded through the generous support of Lakes Hospital Foundation, as part of a larger $9.3 million dollar refurbishment of the hospital.

Through community donations, the Lakes District Hospital Foundation aims to support the hospital to go beyond its immediate needs, while working with Southern DHB and the community to enhance and improve services.

“The whānau room allows the hospital to better support families in times of need,” says Foundation Chair, Jayne Macdonald. “We are very grateful for the community contributions we’ve received to fund this room, particularly the substantial donations received from the Central Lakes Trust and the ADEPT-Mactodd Charitable Trust.  We are extremely lucky to live in a community that shares our vision of helping us to assist the hospital and the people it serves.”

The whānau room will be blessed and officially opened in a ceremony on Friday 7 May at 9.00am. Media are welcome to attend.