Health Minister Edwin Poots congratulated the winners in the Best Kept Awards scheme for health and social care facilities – including the Southern Area Hospice which won the top title for the first time. The Southern Area Hospice was named the Best Kept Residential facility in the Southern Trust Region before going on to win the overall award and title of Northern Ireland’s Best Kept Health and Social Care facility. Windsor Day Centre Newry won the title of Best Kept Day Care facility while Lee Opticians Warrenpoint won the award for Best Kept Healthcare facility. Mr Poots said: “I want to congratulate all of the winners and commend them for their commitment to their enhancement of their indoor and outdoor environments. A special mention must go to the Southern Area Hospice for winning the overall prize this year. A wonderful achievement for a remarkable place.” The Southern Area Hospice was named the ‘Best of the Best’ out of a shortlist of 10 facilities – winners in each of each of the five Health Trust Regions. NIAC judges commended the hospice for taking “every opportunity to create and enhance a truly wonderful environment for patients staff and relatives.” Rev Matthew Hagan, a member of the chaplaincy team at the hospice said: ” The volunteers at the hospice work very hard to create a colourful and inspirational environment, a home from home for a period that is extremely difficult for patients and families. We want the interior and exterior of the building to be uplifting and a breath of fresh air for the people who use our facilities.
Newry Democrat
1st October 2013
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