University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (UHL) is proud to announce the opening of the first SWAN Room, made possible through the incredible generosity of supporters of Leicester Hospitals Charity.

The SWAN (Sign/Words/Actions/Needs) model of care is a nationally recognised approach designed to improve the experience of dying patients and their families. It enhances the confidence and knowledge of ward teams, and ensures care is delivered with dignity, compassion and respect. The introduction of SWAN Rooms at UHL marks a significant step forward in improving the quality and consistency of end-of-life care across the Trust.

The three pilot rooms are located at:

• Ward 35 and 29 at Glenfield Hospital
• Ward 40 at Leicester Royal Infirmary

These thoughtfully enhanced side rooms provide a peaceful, calming environment for patients who are recognised as dying. They allow those important to the patient to spend precious time together in comfort and privacy.

Karen Murray, Palliative and End of Life Care Lead Nurse,  said: “When a patient’s condition deteriorates, families often choose to remain at the bedside, sometimes overnight and at very short notice. The SWAN Rooms are equipped with practical comforts such as reclining chairs, soft furnishings, refreshment facilities and toiletry packs, helping loved ones to rest and care for themselves while staying close.

“The rooms also create opportunities for meaningful memory-making — whether listening to a favourite song, creating handprints, or accessing specialist resources for bereaved children. These compassionate touches can make a lasting difference during one of life’s most difficult moments.”

Funded by the Community

The three initial developments of the SWAN Rooms have been funded entirely thanks to the generosity of individuals, community groups and businesses supporting Leicester Hospitals Charity.

Among those supporters is a local business, Crowndale Foodservice, whose employees completed a sponsored swim challenge in Bulgaria, raising an incredible £4,000 towards the project.

William Boulger, Director of Crowndale Foodservice (pictured left), said: “When we heard about the SWAN Rooms and the difference they would make to families at such a vulnerable time, we knew we wanted to help. Taking on the swim challenge was tough, but nothing compared to what families go through. Our local hospitals play a vital role in caring for the people around us every day, and we are proud to do what we can to support them. We’re pleased that the money we raised will help create a more peaceful and dignified environment for patients and their loved ones.”

The project was also supported by Emily Newton (pictured fourth from right), who completed the London Marathon in 2025 in memory of her father, who passed away in 2024. Emily said: “The hospital was there when my dad was receiving end-of-life care.  I wanted to support the hospital and decided to run the London Marathon in his memory, and I approached the Charity to help me raise funds for this project.  I’m proud to be able to help other families by creating a calm, comforting space to spend precious final moments together.  The room looks great.”

Building for the Future

The launch follows learning from other NHS trusts, including Northampton General Hospital, where SWAN Rooms have already transformed the care experience for dying patients and their families. Feedback from patients, relatives and staff has shown significant improvements in comfort, dignity and overall experience.

UHL hopes this pilot will demonstrate the positive impact of the SWAN model locally and inspire further charitable support to expand the programme to additional wards. There are also future ambitions to create a dedicated family room away from clinical areas, recognising the important role such spaces play in supporting loved ones.

This initiative forms part of UHL’s wider strategy to improve end-of-life care and enhance the care environment for patients and families.

Sunita Patel, Head of Charity at Leicester Hospitals Charity (pictured right) said: “We are incredibly grateful to every individual and organisation who has supported this project so far. The SWAN Rooms show the powerful difference charitable donations can make in our hospitals. Together we’ve been able to support colleagues to create spaces of comfort, dignity and compassion for patients and families when they are needed most.

“We exist to support UHL to enhance the care and experience of everyone who comes into contact with our services.  We are so pleased to support our Specialist Palliative Care Team to continue to raise funds for more SWAN rooms across all wards within the three acute sites.”

For more information about the SWAN Rooms or to support the work of the Specialist Palliative Care Team, please click here.