St Giles Hospice unveils new 'spa bathroom' made possible by Government funding
A new relaxing spa bathroom has been built for patients at St Giles Hospice to allow them to enjoy a soothing, dignified bathing experience with mood lighting, integrated music and a warm, inviting environment during their end of life care.
The new centralised bathroom has been made possible thanks, in part, to the £641,379 government capital funding the hospice received in July 2025 as part of the Department of Health and Social Care's £75 million distribution to hospices across England for buildings, facilities and digital infrastructure improvements.
The transformed space features innovative sensory technology including mood lighting and integrated music systems, moving away from sterile clinical surfaces to create a warm, inviting environment. A refurbished ceiling hoist ensures patients of all mobility levels can safely access the facilities, whilst additional floor space allows for complementary therapy treatments.
Alex Rogers, Occupational Therapist at St Giles Hospice said: "Many of our patients have long-term conditions alongside their palliative diagnosis. Being able to soak in warm water can help to release tension, support muscle relaxation and improve joint stiffness. For others it will help to reduce pain and can even enable our medical team to reduce pain medications. Being able to relax in a bath when most haven't been able to use one at home for sometimes years, can bring such joy and relief during the advanced stages of their illness."
St Giles has put both waves of government funding to excellent use, having already opened a new family lounge in July combining the first funding wave with a grant from the Francis and Eric Ford Charity Trust. The family lounge provides comfortable facilities with sofas, kitchen facilities, and a dedicated children's area for families during difficult times.
The bathroom refurbishment forms part of broader modernisation plans for the Inpatient Unit, originally commissioned as the Compassus Centre in 2010, with many aspects now outdated and equipment reaching the end of its useful life.
Elinor Eustace, CEO of St Giles Hospice, said: "This refurbished patient bathroom represents our belief that dignity and comfort are paramount, even in the most challenging of times. The transformation from clinical surfaces to this relaxing environment shows exactly what we can achieve with proper support. We're incredibly grateful for the government funding that has made both this bathroom and our new family lounge possible."
"However, while this funding has been very welcome and is making a real difference to our patients and families, we continue to advocate alongside Hospice UK for long-term reform that the hospice sector desperately needs. With less than a quarter of our £10 million annual costs funded by the Government, we remain heavily reliant on the generosity of our local community."
Katie Reade, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at Hospice UK said: “It’s great to see how the Department of Health and Social Care’s capital funding is helping hospices like St Giles to improve their facilities and better support patients and families.
"Investments like this are vital to ensure hospices can continue to provide high-quality, dignified end of life care in modern, accessible environments.
"This funding is a positive step towards strengthening the infrastructure hospices need to deliver care to people in their communities.”
The funding comes as crucial support for St Giles, which last year was forced to reduce bed capacity from 23 to 15 beds and implement 23 staff redundancies due to financial pressures facing the sector nationally.
The announcement aligns with the government's recognition of hospices' importance in their 10-year NHS plan and their role in shifting care from hospitals into the community.
