Winchester hospice opens new accessible holiday lodge

The lodge, which opened early in February, offers a free-of-charge holiday for families who use the children’s hospice.

It was opened by Naomi House patron Naomi Cornelius-Reid, who cut the ribbon and welcomed the first family to enjoy a holiday.

A family enjoying the lodge (Image: Jon Bolton/Naomi House)

Located at Hoburne Bashley Holiday Park, near New Milton, the lodge will provide a home-from-home for families. It features bedrooms, including an adaptable bedroom which leads to an accessible wet room.

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The wet room is equipped with both a hoist and shower chair.

Mark Smith, chief executive of Naomi House and Jacksplace, said: “Situated within the superb park and facilities of Hoburne Bashley, we are proud to open our first ever accessible holiday lodge, ‘Naomi House in the Forest’.

The lodge (Image: Jon Bolton/Naomi House)

“The lodge provides a welcome holiday for the children and families who use our hospice services at Naomi House. I am delighted with the feedback we’ve received so far.

“The mums, dads, brothers and sisters who visit our hospices can have very busy, stressful and complicated lives, and if ‘Naomi House in the Forest’ can provide them with a moment of tranquillity, fun or relaxation, that’s fantastic.”

One family, who have already used the lodge, said: “The lodge was absolutely stunning. It was so spacious and had everything we needed in it. To go away on holiday and have the specialised profiling bed and the huge wet room was perfect. To have different scenery but also comfort for our daughter was everything we wanted. It was a well needed, stress-free break.”