A PEACEFUL and calm palliative care room has been opened in Barnard Castle for anyone in the community to use.
The new room, at Kings Court Care Home, was made possible through the fundraising efforts of residents Shirley Wood and Brenda Wearmouth.
Together they raised £2,524 through hosting a Christmas fair, selling crafts made by residents, holding raffles and organising a donations from Teesdale and District Lions Club and Newcastle Building Society.
The home’s lifestyle co-ordinator Caroline Waldock said: “It can be used by residents here but it is going to be for the community, for people who don’t want to go into hospital.
“Brenda and Shirley have looked into it a lot and they have gone shopping for curtains, blinds, wall colour, bedding, lighting and then for the person who’s in the room we have got a profile electric bed.”
She added: “We’ve got photo frames beside the bed so they can put all their favourite photos in.
“Then for the family, we’ve re-done the shower room and reclining chairs – there is anything you would need to stay over.”
Ms Wood added: “That is the whole point of the room – so family can stay as long as they want.”
There is also a fridge and mini-bar along with a kettle with tea, coffee and biscuits.
The room boasts a magnificent view overlooking the walls of Barnard Castle.
Anyone interested in knowing more about the end-of-life room can contact Kings Court Care Home on 01833 348203.
![A COUNTY councillor is backing a campaign to get a pedestrian crossing in Staindrop. Frustrated parish councillors in the village summoned their county council representative Cllr George Richardson to their latest meeting to discuss several issues, including the call for a safe way to cross the A688. Earlier this year their request for a crossing was turned down by the county council’s highways officers. Parish council chairman Jonothan Raper described the reasons for the refusal as “spurious” and called on Cllr Richardson to support their campaign. He added: “One of the arguments they made was there is no clear line of desire when they studied the village – well this isn’t a clear line of desire because there isn’t a crossing, people cross whenever they can. “When the lollipop person was there, one of the things I noticed was people would walk all the way down to the lollipop person to cross the road to go to the shop or to go to the school.” He added a problem of parking at the primary school is exacerbated because people are too afraid to walk their children across the road. Cllr Richardson said he had supported previous attempts for a crossing point with the first being made about 15 years ago. He added: “We went fairly well down the road with that and they looked into it. The only recommended place was where the bus stop is and to get the visibility splays, people on the other side of the road would lose their parking. “That didn’t go down well so it just died a death.” Cllr Raper said he suspected the real reason for the officers’ refusal was the cost of installing a crossing. He added that much of the cost could be recovered from savings made on not having to employ a lollipop patrol. Cllr Raper said: “A lollipop person only provides a benefit of crossing for three hours of the day. You are getting 21 extra hours of crossing time [with a pedestrian crossing].” Cllr Richardson said he would raise the issue with the county council’s cabinet member for highways, Cllr John Shuttleworth.](https://teesdalemercury.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/georgeR-120x86.jpg)
