Father Paul's hospice vision is realised (From Western Telegraph)

Father Paul's hospice vision is realised

THE first residential hospice in Pembrokeshire has opened its doors to patients.

The Paul Sartori Foundation's inpatient care unit at Langton Hall, near Scleddau, will provide care not just for the terminally ill, but also for those requiring palliative and respite care.

Nearly nine months has elapsed since the initial decision to create the unit and its actual opening.

Senior Nurse Chris Patterson said that the lengthy preparation period was down to recently introduced Government legislation. The Care Standards Act aims to bring private residential care standards in line with the NHS.

"Nurses have got to be adequately trained, you must have a list of their qualifications, rooms must be of a specific size and you must have the right kind of drugs cupboard and so on," she explained.

When they began planning the unit the legislation was in a transitional phase, so the foundation had to prepare to meet the new rules.

The design and surroundings of the hospice are homely and welcoming, demonstrating the thought and care that has gone into the design. The foundation was assisted in furnishing the hospice by local firms MNP Business Solutions and Funky Monkey.

The opening of the unit is the realisation of the late Father Paul Sartori's original vision - to open a residential hospice in the county.

q Pembrokeshire will benefit from a second residential hospice in the near future. The Shalom House Trust began work on a site in Nun Street, St Davids, this week.