An oasis of peace and prayer at the heart of a busy hospital is how a newly refurbished Chaplaincy centre in Barrow has been described.

University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT) has transformed Furness General Hospital’s Chaplaincy department into a tranquil and welcoming place for patients, relatives, visitors and staff.

Debbie Wilde, lead Chaplain at Furness General Hospital (FGH), said: “The transformation is absolutely wonderful.

“It’s somewhere to take time out or a calming space for prayer. We have tried to use soothing colours which reflect Barrow’s docklands history such as the greens and blues of the sea and nature.”

As well as the beautiful new chapel, the Chaplaincy department now has a prayer room for all faiths, a meeting room, office space, a vestry and prayer tree artwork on the entrance wall.

The dedication service of the chapel was held on Monday June 3 and was attended by people from across the Furness Peninsula including The Venerable Dr Richard Pratt, Archdeacon of West Cumberland, Richard Teal, chairman of Cumbria Methodist District and Aaron Cummins, chief executive of UHMBT.

The Trust’s Capital Services Team planned, project managed and commissioned the work in-house, working alongside Day Architectural Ltd and Thomas Armstrong Construction Ltd.

Debbie joined UHMBT as Lead Chaplain for FGH in September to be near her family.

She said: “I see it as a real privilege to work here because many people come to us in spiritual or physical pain, facing big questions due to illness.

“We hope to support them on their life journey.