A quiet room inside one of south-east Queensland’s busiest emergency departments is offering patients and families a moment of calm during some of life’s most difficult moments.
The “Willow Room” at Logan Hospital’s emergency department has been created to be a dedicated space for palliative patients who cannot be transferred to the hospital’s palliative care ward, allowing families privacy and dignity in their final hours together.
The room was made possible through support from the Logan Hospital Fund, which provided a grant to help fit out the space with built-in cupboards, furnishings and other items designed to make the environment more peaceful.
Emergency access guidance and logistics expert Narelle Vasterink, who led the project, said the room had quickly become an important part of the department.
“The Willow Room has been a wonderful initiative within the Emergency Department and one I have been incredibly proud to lead, providing a beautiful and compassionate space,” Ms Vasterink said.
The cupboards, funded by the grant, store blankets and “Lisa’s Lunch Boxes,” which are care packages of donated items for families who may be unable to leave the bedside of a loved one.
The room also features curtains and artwork aimed at softening what can otherwise be a clinical environment.
Ms Vasterink said consumer advisor David Sloan also played a key role in shaping the project.
“His input, wisdom, and lived experience were invaluable and greatly appreciated by the ED End of Life Working Group,” Ms Vasterink said.
Logan Hospital Fund representative Sana Demirovic said the project highlighted the impact community donations can have on patient care.
“To our donors, thank you. Your generosity has directly shaped the experience of patients and families during some of the most difficult moments of their lives,” Ms Demirovic said.
“Because of your support, the Willow Room is not just a clinical space.
“It is a place of dignity, comfort, and compassion.”
Ms Demirovic said the room allowed families to spend meaningful time with loved ones in a more private setting.
“For families, the Willow Room offers privacy, calm, and the opportunity to be fully present with their loved one,” Ms Demirovic said.
“In an environment that is often fast-paced and clinical, this space provides a sense of peace and respect.”
