The two palliative care rooms at Gympie Hospital have been refurbished and renovated beyond recognition thanks completely to donations to Palliative Care Services and the generosity of local Gympie and Sunshine Coast businesses.

Work started on the $20,000 dual-renovation last month, including new flooring, fresh paint, increased natural light in to the rooms, outdoor gardens as well the addition of upgraded white goods and wall-mounted televisions.

Under the guidance of the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service’s Building, Engineering and Maintenance team the dark and dated rooms have been given a significant makeover in an effort to make the final days of palliative ill patients more comfortable.

Wishlist CEO Lisa Rowe said it was hugely satisfying to be able to approve the room upgrades.

“This would not have been possible if it wasn’t for the incredibly generous local families who have paid tribute to their loved ones who have since passed on with a financial donation to the Hospital and Health Services’ Palliative Care services,” she said.

“At the very core of what Wishlist aims to do is a desire to provide the little extras that make a massive difference to our local hospital service and the people they care for,” Ms Rowe said.

Nurse Unit Manager Deanne Williams said the renovation work will also give the palliative care nurses on the ward a boost.

“Palliative Care is an exceptionally delicate area of health expertise and the nurses who work in this sector go above and beyond every day to provide a special level of care,” Ms Williams said.

“To be able to nurse in an environment that encourages a calmer and more comfortable feeling during such a stressful and upsetting time for the patient and their family is a wonderful thing,” she said.

Gympie Health Services Director Leuwin Ferguson said the commitment made by charities to local palliative care services was invaluable.

“We are incredibly lucky to have the support of Wishlist as well as Little Haven to ensure Gympie families who need the support of palliative care are well looked after,” Ms Ferguson said.

On top of the $20,000 gifted to the upgrade, Gympie and Sunshine Coast companies also supplied discounted and donated services. These included Buckley’s Electrical, Armstrong’s Flooring Coverings, Trilogy Air Conditioning, MK Floors and Higgins Coatings.

Wishlist will fundraise for the next item on the Gympie Hospital wish list – a BiPap Ventilation machine for the Emergency Department – through the inaugural Wishlist Jazz + Wine Festival on June 4, 2016 at Gunabul Homestead. For more information and ticket purchases visit: http://www.wishlist.org.au/Events/WishlistJazzandWineFestival-544/