Harrogate District Hospital opens a new family support room thanks to Freemasons £25k donation.

A family support room has been officially opened on Byland Ward at Harrogate District Hospital, thanks to generous donations from local Freemasons and the Friends of Harrogate Hospital and Community Charity.

from left are: David S Pratt, the Provincial Grand Master of the Province of Yorkshire West Riding; Chief Executive of Harrogate & District NHS Foundation Trust, Dr Ros Tolcher; Matron Tammy Gotts; Paul Clarke, Assistant Provincial Grand Master of the Province of Yorkshire West Riding; Ian Wright, Provincial Grand Master Fund coordinator; Richard Stone and Michael Wrigglesworth, both from Knaresborough Priory Lodge.

The Masons Suite was officially opened by the Provincial Grand Master of the Province of Yorkshire West Riding, David S Pratt, following a £25,000 major grant from the Provincial Grand Master’s Fund, and £5,000 from the Friends of Harrogate Hospital and Community Charity.

The new Suite will improve patient experience on Byland Ward for patients, including those with dementia and learning disabilities. It includes reminiscence features and mood lighting and will provide a comforting non-clinical environment for patients.

Tammy Gotts, Matron, who has coordinated the efforts to open to the Masons Suite, said: “The project has been two years in the making and we are delighted that the Masons Suite is now open.

“Our huge thanks go to the Masonic Province of Yorkshire, West Riding, and the Friends of Harrogate Hospital and Community Charity, for their generous donations. Without them, the project would not have been possible.

“The Suite will improve the experience of staying in the hospital for the patients on the ward.”

David S Pratt, the Provincial Grand Master of the Province of Yorkshire West Riding, said: “It was my absolute honour to officially open the Masons Suite within Harrogate District Hospital’s Byland Ward.

“The grant application to financially support this initiative was made by Knaresborough Priory Lodge, and in the coming years, it will help provide comfort and to countless people from the Harrogate district and beyond.

“In Harrogate and Knaresborough there are seven lodges, and all are active within the community. And it is through to the generosity of our members that we are able to fund initiatives such as this family support room with the hospital.”