Berwick MP, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, has visited the finished ward at Rothbury Hospital offering a pioneering mix of care home and flexible in-patient NHS care as part of a joint venture between Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Rothbury Cottage Care Ltd.
Rt Hon Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP visited Rothbury hospital last week, to see the finished ward developed in partnership between Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Rothbury Cottage Care Ltd, part of People First Care, to provide beds which can be used flexibly depending on patient needs.
The MP visited the works last summer and was invited back to see the finished ward for herself.
The work involved transforming the existing inpatient ward into a care home facility which can also be used by the NHS for patients who need longer-term palliative care as well as end-of-life support. The facility receives clinical support from a team of district nurses, GPs and nurse practitioners and will be provided alongside healthcare currently provided. Each resident has a personal care plan that is tailored to their specific needs and preferences, and the facility provides a range of services and activities to promote socialisation, engagement, and well-being.
The MP, whose own godfather spent his final days overlooking the Coquet Valley, has been supportive of Northumbria NHS’s desire to find solutions which work for rural populations, enabling care to be received closer to home.
Ms Trevelyan was met by local NHS leaders, including Sir Jim Mackey, who showed her the new facilities and common areas.
Speaking of the visit, Anne-Marie said:
“The facility is truly impressive, and I was struck by how it did not resemble a care home at all, but rather felt like a luxurious hotel. The common areas were tastefully decorated, and the individual bedrooms were spacious and elegantly furnished. It was heartening to see that the team at Rothbury Hospital recognises the importance of treating each resident as an individual and is respectful of their dignity and privacy.
“I had the chance to speak to residents who were full of praise for the staff and the facilities. The facility is a shining example of Northumbria-NHS leading the way in care facilities that we can all be proud of.”
