Published on: 12 April 2023
One year on since opening of The Cedar Unit
It has been exactly one year since The Cedar Unit opened its doors to provide end of life care for residents in South Tyneside.
The Cedar Unit was opened on April 12, 2022. It was designed to provide a ‘home from home’ environment for people who have a palliative diagnosis, are nearing their end of life, and don’t want to die in hospital or at home.
The Unit is situated downstairs in Haven Court and provides holistic end of life care to adults (aged 18 and over). Residents receive 24-hour care to help manage their symptoms and maintain their physical and emotional wellbeing.
Since its opening, The Cedar Unit has provided safe and dignified end of life care to almost 100 people.
Many local families have spoken about the care and support they received at The Cedar Unit, such as Susan Appleby, whose Mam was cared for in the unit. She said: “Thank you so much for looking after our Mam in her final days.
“The standard of care was beyond expectation and we will always be grateful for the compassion and care you provided to us all. You provide an amazing service and we are so grateful for everything.”
Carol Hamilton, whose Dad passed away on the unit, expressed her thanks to the team. She said: “Thank you so much for the exceptional care and compassion given to my Dad during his final days. It was a huge relief for the whole family."
“He was very appreciative to all involved in his care and his time spent with you all on The Cedar Unit was first class.”
Eileen Carr also thanked the staff for their care of her loved one, Norman. She said: “I would like to pass on my deepest gratitude and thanks on behalf of myself and Norman’s family for your amazing care and support in his final days. I could not have asked or hoped for a better standard of compassionate care for Norman or warmer support for myself in what was a very trying time.
“I will be forever grateful for your team’s care; kind, dedicated, professional and above all they prioritised Norman’s dignity. Thank you for the amazing work you do.”
Melanie Johnson, Executive Director of Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professionals at South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, said: “A year ago, we set out to transform the way end of life and palliative care was delivered in South Tyneside.
“We wanted to ensure that people with life limiting illnesses had dignity, support and choice at the end of their lives. I have seen, first hand, the compassionate care and comfort the staff provide at The Cedar Unit.
“I’m exceptionally proud of the team and it’s clear, from the kind words of residents families, that they have already touched the lives of so many people.”
David Purdue, Executive Chief Nurse at NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB), said: "It's wonderful to see the care and compassion that staff at the Cedar Unit show to patients every day. Everyone deserves high quality and dignified care at the end of their life, whatever their circumstances and preferences.
“With such dedicated staff in both the Cedar Unit and also caring for people at home in our community-based teams, patients and families in South Tyneside now have a range of quality options and greater choice when they need it most."
Relatives and loved ones of those who have passed away at the unit, will be invited to a special remembrance service with refreshments at Haven Court on May 5, 2023.
The Cedar Unit is located within Haven Court, an integrated care facility in its own area within the South Tyneside District Hospital site. Haven Court is a care home that specialises in residential and nursing care, dementia care and re-enablement. For many local people it is their home.
It opened in 2016 and is a wholly owned subsidiary (South Tyneside Integrated Care Limited) of South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust. In December 2020, Haven Court was rated ‘good’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
