The Primrose Foundation, the local breast care charity based at Derriford Hospital, has unveiled a new quiet room for patients receiving treatment.
The warm and comforting space has been made possible by the efforts of the charity’s fundraisers.
Madeleine Matthews, fundraising co-ordinator said: “We are lucky to have so many amazing people fundraise for us so when a group of local ladies, who have all received treatment at the Primrose Centre came up with this fantastic idea, we had to help make it happen.
“Having each gone through a breast cancer diagnosis, they wanted to create a private area for patients to use, should they need a moment to themselves. This same group – known as the fabulous ‘Dare 2’ ladies held two charity balls in aid of the Foundation over a two year period and raised an incredible £23,000 and around £4,000 of that funding has been used to create this new space amongst other improvements which will benefit future breast cancer patients coming through the service.”
The room was specifically designed by one of the Primrose Foundations Trustees, Shelley Coleman, who said:
“I was so pleased to be asked to help design the new quiet room, because I have been heavily involved with the Dare 2 ladies from the beginning. It was an absolute privilege to help create this room.”
The room, based at The Primrose breast care centre will be used for a variety of purposes: for those needing a quiet moment, for waiting prior to surgery, for the more thoughtful times where in a quiet space, patients and their families can take the time to process the sometimes, difficult information they have received.
Shelley added:
“I really wanted the room to be slightly feminine without that showroom look, that isn’t very relaxing! The furniture that we chose is a little mix and match, with lots of green plants, coupled with the heather colours which we hope creates a feeling of warmth and freshness.
“On the new coffee table there are notebooks and pens so visitors can jot down any questions they may have. There will also be magazines and some tiny thought provoking books to skip through to pass the time. We will also be providing coffee, tea and hot chocolate to drink while our visitors get their thoughts together.
“On the wall, we have placed a large framed photo of the ‘Dare 2’ ladies who made this room possible and each of whom have been treated at The Primrose centre.
“These incredible women are an inspiration to us all – they have gone through their own traumas, dealt with them and managed to create a force together that moved people enough to raise over 20k. They are the colours and the warmth of this room and it is their very essence that shines out of the picture.”
After months of hard work and the help of various different local companies the Primrose quiet room was officially opened in August by one of the members of the inspirational group, Mrs Joan Camp, 74, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014.
Collectively the group said:
“We all feel really passionate about having a quiet area where patients can go following a diagnosis, somewhere peaceful, tranquil and relaxing where they can digest what they have been told. It is somewhere they can sit with their family or friends. We all think this will make big difference to the start of their journey, somewhere they can feel at ease.”
For further information on The Primrose Foundation, please contact Madeleine Matthews on (01752) 975217/ 07894700866 or via email on madeleine@primrosefoundation.org
