End-of-Life Care

The Friends of Chelsea & Westminster Hospital have a particular interest in helping to improve the hospital experience for patients at the end of life and their loved ones.

Butterfly Rooms

From 2016-2022 the Friends’ fundraising focus was on expanding the number of ‘Butterfly Rooms’ within the hospital as part of the Trust’s programme of improving its palliative care. These rooms are dedicated to those patients near the end of life, so that friends and family can spend more time with their loved ones in their last days. The Friends redecorate these side rooms to provide additional comfort and a peaceful environment for patients and their families. So far we have completed 13 Butterfly Rooms (seven at Chelsea & Westminster and six at West Middlesex).

Wards with Completed Butterfly Rooms

Acute Admissions Unit (Chelsea & Westminster)
David Erskine (Chelsea & Westminster)
Edgar Horne (Chelsea & Westminster)
Kew (West Middlesex)
Lord Wigram (Chelsea & Westminster)
Nell Gwynne (Chelsea & Westminster)
Rainsford Mowlem (Chelsea & Westminster)
St Mary Abbotts (Chelsea & Westminster)
Acute Medical Unit 2 (West Middlesex)
Syon 2 (West Middlesex)
Osterley 2 (West Middlesex)
Marble Hill 1 (West Middlesex)
Marble Hill 2 (West Middlesex)

Butterfly Volunteer Manager

In October 2023, following a request from the Trust’s Volunteering Department, our Trustees agreed to fund the salary of a Butterfly Volunteer Manager for one year. In January 2024 Amber Lysaight was appointed to the role, and will be starting in mid-February. Amber will oversee and recruit the Trust’s Butterfly Volunteer team, who are trained to assist patients at the end of life and their families. We are proud to be continuing our support for the Trust’s end-of-life care services which began with the Butterfly Rooms. Volunteering Manager Jo Taranowski said, “We are delighted to receive funding for the Butterfly Volunteer Manager. This role is vital to the smooth running of this end-of-life companionship service across the Trust.”