Rotary Heartbeat House is undergoing a major transformation, with a new extension, improved accessible accommodation and upgraded communal and outdoor spaces forming part of a £750,000 renovation project.
The work is focused on improving accessibility, inclusivity and comfort so that more families can make use of the accommodation while loved ones, some from the Isle of Wight, receive specialist cardiac treatment at Southampton General Hospital.
Plans include a brand-new extension with additional accessible facilities, as well as dedicated remote working space for guests.
Flexible communal areas will also be created to host coffee mornings, support groups and fundraising events.
Outside, an accessible terrace and improved access to the garden are planned, while the accommodation itself will be enhanced to meet a wider range of mobility needs.
Rotary Heartbeat House, on Tremona Road close to Southampton General Hospital and the Wessex Cardiac Centre, has provided accommodation for the families of cardiac patients for more than 30 years.
Its reach extends across a vast area – north to Oxford, east to Chichester, west to Plymouth and south to the Channel Islands – and includes families travelling across the Solent from the Isle of Wight.
The House allows relatives to remain close to loved ones receiving specialist treatment, including families who have travelled from the Isle of Wight and would otherwise face repeated journeys across the Solent.
The aim is to provide more than simply a bed for the night. Families can prepare food, wash clothes and spend time away from the hospital environment, all while remaining just minutes from their loved one.
Heartbeat was established in 1992, with the first Rotary Heartbeat House opening in 1995. The accommodation has since expanded as demand has grown and today provides 24 bedrooms alongside communal facilities for families staying away from home.
The latest investment is aimed at ensuring the House can continue supporting families for years to come, while making its facilities suitable for a wider range of mobility and accessibility needs.
