Local MP, Huw Merriman, and a team of Councillors from his constituency of Bexhill and Battle, made a recent visit to Chestnut Tree House, Sussex’s children’s hospice.
Cross-party delegation pays tribute to the work which the organisation carries out for children and their families
Paying tribute to the work which the organisation carries out for children and their families, the cross-party delegation Huw described the hospice as “a really happy and positive place where families and children can spend time together having fun and taking part in a wide variety of activities.”
Joining Huw for the visit were Cllr Lin Clark, Wealden District Councillor for Pevensey, Cllr Kathryn Field, County and District Councillor for Battle and Battle Town Councillor and Glenna Flavell. All were keen to find out more about the children’s hospice and outreach services for their residents.
Chestnut Tree, which is celebrating its 15th Birthday this year, cares for around 300 children with life-shortening conditions across Sussex and South East Hampshire, including 60 in East Sussex. It offers care in families’ own homes across the region as well as at its purpose built hospice building near Arundel.
The local delegation were shown around the hospice, which has 10 bedrooms for children to enjoy overnight stays, as well as family rooms and a bereavement suite. The building is fully equipped to meet the needs of each and every child, including a sensory room, hydrotherapy pool, teenage wing and woodland walk.
Huw said “We were so impressed with the amazing facilities and peaceful location of the hospice. There is so much to do and everything is fully accessible. They have thought of everything a family needs to spend quality time together and, importantly, they support the whole family including siblings and grandparents. The wonderful staff at the hospice told us that it was all about living at Chestnut Tree House and we saw that this is very much the case.”
On the visit, the team also learned about the care the charity offers in their own areas. Families being cared for by Chestnut Tree are offered regular respite visits from the Chestnut Tree community nursing team, are invited to specially arranged events across the county throughout the year and are supported by the charity at the end of a child’s life wherever they would like to be.
Huw commented “Knowing that you have someone on hand who can support your family at home with everyday life as well as during difficult times is invaluable.”
To find out more about Chestnut Tree, including how to make a referral if you or someone you know has a child with a life-shortening condition, visit www.chestnut-tree-house.org.uk @ChestnutSussex ChestnutTreeHouse
about Chestnut Tree House
Chestnut Tree House provides specialist palliative care services to 300 children and young people aged 0-19 with life-shortening conditions in East Sussex, West Sussex and South East Hampshire.
The services offered include assessment, advice and information for children and young adults with life-shortening conditions, specialist short breaks, emergency care, step down from hospital and end of life care.
The Community Team cares for families in their own homes in East Sussex, West Sussex and South East Hampshire. A multi-disciplinary team offers support for the entire family following diagnosis and through the whole disease process.
·Chestnut Tree House also offers bereavement support which includes therapy, counseling and spiritual care. There is also a specialist neonatal care service, services for under 5s and transition advice for young people moving to adult services.
·Chestnut Tree House offers care for families after the unexpected death of a child or young person, including the use of our ‘Stars’ bereavement suite.
At Chestnut Tree House, the goal is to provide the best quality of life for children and their families, and to offer a total package of practical, social and spiritual support throughout each child’s life, however short it may be.
·It costs well over £3.5 million each year to provide all Chestnut Tree House’s specialist care services. Families are never charged for their care and the hospice receives less than 7% from central government, so it relies heavily on the generosity, help and support of the local community.
For the Now
Chestnut Tree House helps families live For the Now. They are the hand that reassures, a hug that comforts, a safe port in a sea of life-changing diagnoses and round the clock care.
Now is precious moments that give a lifetime of memories, the chance to be a parent for a few hours, rather than a carer, and the opportunity for kids to just be kids, to do all the things that kids their age should do. Now is all about exploring, creating, enjoying and treasuring. And for our supporters it’s all about the high of doing something important, something that they didn’t think they could do. It’s about making their own memories whilst making a difference.
For its 15th Birthday year in 2018 Chestnut Tree House wants to celebrate all these Nows, and help create thousands more. Whether it’s baking a cake or dreaming up funky fundraising fun, making new friends and learning new skills through volunteering, taking on a challenge in one of our events, or shopping for that perfect bargain in one of our retail outlets, when you do something for Chestnut Tree House you are making all the Nows count.
Chestnut Tree House. For Local Families. For Living. For the Now
