New cuddle bed making a real difference to patients and families at North Devon Hospice

North Devon Hospice’s clinical team lead Hannah explains why the hospice’s brand-new cuddle bed will help bring patients and families closer at a time when it really does matter most.

When people ask me what the Bedded Unit is like at North Devon Hospice, I take such pleasure in telling them what a warm and welcoming place it is.

Last summer, we were able to make it feel even more like a home-from-home for patients and families thanks to a grant-funded refurbishment.

During this exciting process, not only did we update the décor and furnishings on the unit, but we also installed specialist storage to conceal any medical equipment, making the environment far less clinical and much more relaxing for those staying with us.

While the feedback we’ve had about our Bedded Unit refurbishment from both families and the community has been overwhelmingly positive, one of the things our patients have continued to miss when staying with us is being able to share a moment of real closeness with their family or friends.

When someone is admitted to the hospice for end-of-life care, the need for physical touch becomes more important than ever. As such, we often see patients and their loved ones trying to remain as close as they can for as long as they can.

For family members or friends, this often means settling for holding hands, having an arm around the patient, or sleeping on a bed near to them with a small gap in between.

However, thanks to a new piece of equipment that arrived at the hospice just a few weeks ago, we can now help to bring patients and families closer than ever before.

Our brand-new cuddle bed is an amazing piece of equipment that will prove incredibly beneficial to the people we care for in so many ways.

As well as having several specialist features to help keep patients medically comfortable, this innovative bed also has an extendable base and attachable mattress cushions to allow more than one person on the bed.

This means that rather than settling for having them nearby, patients can now enjoy magical moments of physical affection with family or friends by having them sit, lie, or sleep on the bed next to them just as they would at home – a truly precious experience when receiving end-of-life care.

Alongside this, the cuddle bed’s warming nightlights and slow-release side rails also help to make these treasured moments even more special by creating a relaxing environment and enabling both patients and family members to feel totally safe and secure during their time together.

Whether it’s a husband and wife, mother and daughter, grandfather and grandson, or two best friends, having this wonderful bed will now allow anyone in our care the chance to be close to the people they love at a time when it really does matter most.

To our patients and families, this means more than you’ll ever know. On behalf of them and us, thank you for making this possible.