A HOSPICE invited a Paralympic star to open a new facility that will allow its young patients to spend quality time with their families.

Farleigh Hospice, in North Court Road, Broomfield, welcomed former Paralympic 800m world record holder Danny Crates to open a new studio apartment, known as Room 9.

It is within the Hospice Inpatient Unit, which was designed to provide an inclusive space suitable for young people and families to spend time together in a homely environment, for overnight stays.

For young people who have a complex health need, one of the challenges as they reach adulthood is the transfer to a new care environment.

In many cases, they will have been cared for by the same people for as long as they can remember.

The transition to an adult hospice can therefore be a difficult time for many young people, as they consult with several new health and therapy teams, as well as adult social care services.

However, the transition is necessary to manage and administer the specialist care required.

The suite is a fully accessible studio apartment with a kitchenette, bathroom, modern entertainment centre and private outdoor area, as well as a sofa bed for visiting family and friends to allow young people to live as independently as possible.

Patients will be able to relax with friends and family as they prepare meals, catch up on their favourite TV shows, and play games, while specialist palliative care is on hand 24/7 to assist where needed.

Alison Stevens, chief executive at Farleigh Hospice, said “We are delighted that with the generous support of our funders we have been able to convert an unused wing into a really homely environment for families and young people to stay for short breaks at the hospice. The studio apartment has been designed to be disabled friendly so young people can be as independent as possible when staying with us.”

The work to adapt this space would not have been possible without the generous financial support of businesses including the Morrisons Foundation, Ryan Tolley Leukaemia Trust Fund and Charles S French Charitable Trust.

The hospice estimates that 50 patients will benefit from the new room in its first year of opening.