Whanau-friendly room gets make-over
The parents’ room at Taranaki Base Hospital is getting a muchneeded makeover with help from some renovation stars.
Furniture and home design store RJ Eagar is providing the big-ticket items for the project and style advice for the parent zone has been shared by Cat Glass and Jeremy Hill, who were on The Block TV show in 2015.
The room, used by visitors and staff for breastfeeding and bottlefeeding and by parents with young children, is in urgent need of refurbishment, says Taranaki Health Foundation general manager Bry Kopu.
The foundation and hospital project team are partnering to create a whanau-friendly space with new paint, carpet, blinds and lighting and furniture.
Behind the upgrade is the project team led by Mary Bird and supported by Debbie Wright, Philip Olckers and whanau representative Christine Strydom.
Kopu said securing business sponsorship had meant many of the more expensive items had been achieved in one swoop, with RJ Eagar providing and laying new carpeting tiles, donating a Laziboy and two-seater couch, plus window and door treatments.
‘‘We are so thrilled to be able to connect Taranaki businesses to worthy causes, so it is a win-win situation for everyone,’’ she says.
‘‘RJ Eagar’s generous sponsorship has made this project a reality and we are very grateful for their enthusiasm.
‘‘It is wonderful that whanau and visitors will have a calm, family friendly space to take their children.’’
Director Michael Eagar said the New Plymouth and Stratford business believed it was great to support projects like this.
He’s delighted to help provide new mothers with a nice environment to feed their babies and share this with partners.
‘‘It’s an important time when they are new mums.’’
The new parent zone will be on Level 2 at Taranaki Base Hospital adjacent to the corporate entrance and surgical outpatients.