13/07/2018 - Permalink

Swan Fund raises £18,000 in three years

Related topics: Adult social care / Health / Partner organisations

News from our partners Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust

A fund set up to benefit patients at the end of their life, and their families, has raised almost £18,000 in the three years since it was launched.

The Swan Fund was set up at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH) in July 2015 by End of Life Care Facilitator Jules Lewis.

Swan Rooms nurses

Jules Lewis with Rachel Williams, Ward Manager on Ward 8, at the opening of one of the Swan Rooms

It was launched with a £500 donation which was collected at the funeral of Jules’ own father, Harold, who passed away at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital (RSH).

Swan Rooms

Jules Lewis with her dad, Harold.

Since then the fund has grown thanks to generous donations from groups and individuals and has paid for many of the improvements which have taken place at RSH and the Princess Royal Hospital (PRH) in Telford.

Money from the fund has been used to purchase the XCcube system, which allows the dignified transportation of a deceased person to the Swan Bereavement Suite; 13 Swan Rooms, providing privacy and dignity for patients at the end of their life; vouchers for relatives; coping with grief leaflets; Swan Bags and contents for unexpected deaths and much more.

The fund is also support by The League of Friends of the RSH and the Friends of PRH through Swan Memory Boxes, which can be used by relatives and loved ones to keep special items.

Jules said:

“Death and dying is very difficult to deal with, even for staff who work in hospitals, but helping patients and their families at their time of greatest need is hugely important to us and the Swan Fund helps us achieve this.

“It always amazes me how many bereaved families donate to the fund at the hardest of times. I always send a thank you card to all the people who donate and we have invited many in to officially open Swan Rooms.

“I would just like to say a huge thank you to everyone for their kindness. All donations are used very wisely to improve end of life care at the Trust.” 

Further information

  • Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust is the main provider of acute hospital care for almost 500,000 people from Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and mid Wales. Patients come to us from Telford, Shrewsbury, Ludlow, Oswestry, Bridgnorth, Whitchurch, Newtown and Welshpool in Powys.
  • The Trust continues to work with its partners in health and social care in Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and mid Wales to develop patient-focused services that meet the needs of our communities.
  • If you have any feedback about local healthcare, independent support and signposting is available from Healthwatch Shropshire, Healthwatch Telford and Wrekin and Powys Community Health Council (CHC):