A Darlington family whose mother spent her final months receiving complex care at home has helped officially open a new specialist training centre.
Springfield Darlington’s new Centre of Excellence will train care workers across the North East to support people with complex needs.
The centre includes Kathleen’s Corner, named in memory of Kathleen Nesom, who received five months of complex and palliative care at home before her death earlier this year.
Her family donated to the centre in her memory and attended its opening on Wednesday, October 21.
From left, Kathleen's daughters Alison Wolstenholme and Helen Nesom with Theresa Bradley-Comstive, chief operating officer at Springfield Healthcare (Image: Supplied)
The Chesnut Street facility will give Springfield Darlington’s care teams practical training to support people with complex medical conditions and ease pressure on the NHS.
Theresa Bradley-Comstive, chief operating officer at Springfield Healthcare, said: "The opening of our Centre of Excellence marks an important investment in our people and, ultimately, in the people and families we support.
"Complex care requires highly skilled teams who understand not just the clinical needs of the person they are caring for, but also the importance of dignity, independence, and enabling people to remain at home wherever possible.
Kathleen's family at the opening (Image: Supplied)
"Having a dedicated space where our teams can develop their skills, share knowledge, and learn alongside specialist partners will help us continue to provide the very highest standards of care.
"Having Kathleen’s family officially open Kathleen’s Corner makes the centre particularly meaningful.
"Kathleen’s family experienced first-hand the difference that high-quality care at home can make, and their decision to donate in her memory will help us develop the next generation of carers who can provide that support to other families.
"We are incredibly grateful to them and hope Kathleen’s legacy will live on through the people who are able to receive the specialist care they need in the comfort of their own home."
Kathleen’s family said the care she received made a lasting impact.
A spokesperson for the family said: "Kathleen received palliative care at home and the support she and our family received meant so much to us.
"We wanted to make a donation in Kathleen’s memory that could help other families experience the same opportunity to have their loved one cared for at home.
"We are incredibly proud that Kathleen’s Corner has been created in her memory and were honoured to officially open it.
"Knowing that her legacy will help Springfield Darlington train its teams to support other people with complex care needs is very special to us."
The centre represents an £18,000 investment in office refurbishment and a dedicated specialist training environment.
It will train all 850 Springfield Darlington staff and is registered under the company’s Newcastle branch for TDDI (Treatment of Disease, Disorder or Injury).
Training will cover motor neurone disease, spinal injuries, bowel management, cough assist and tracheostomy care.
Springfield Healthcare’s training teams will deliver sessions with partners including Fresenius, district nursing teams and universities.
Demand for complex care is growing in the North East, with Springfield Darlington taking on around six new care packages since February.
The Centre of Excellence will give care teams the skills, knowledge and confidence to provide personalised care at home.
Springfield Darlington hopes to turn the centre into a wider training hub for care providers and other organisations.
The facility will offer staff professional development and career-progression opportunities.
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The centre will not create immediate jobs, but expanding complex care services could create more work as demand grows.
The organisation is exploring training partnerships, including possible nursing associate programmes and placements.
Around 19.6 per cent of Darlington’s population—22,000 people—live with a limiting long-term illness, highlighting the need for specialist community care.