A new £1 million support centre offering palliative and bereavement care has opened this week at Birmingham Children's Hospital.

Called Magnolia House, it is claimed to be a national first and has been funded entirely by charitable donations.

Its aim is to improve the experiences of hundreds of families who receive life-changing or difficult news in the future.

The hospital says that, every year, around 120 life-changing conversations take place there between health professionals and the loved ones of young people.

Currently, this news is delivered in offices, empty cubicles or even playrooms, with parents often moved back out onto the ward before they have properly had the time to digest what they are being told.

Magnolia House offers what the hospital is calling "a home-from-from sanctuary" which gives families a space where they can spend as long as they need together before they feel ready to face the world again.

'Living roof' exterior of Magnolia House
'Living roof' exterior of Magnolia House

Fundraising was spearheaded by Birmingham-based financial services firm Wesleyan which raised £750,000 of the required £1 million via more than 200 fundraising activities, including the publication of a children's book called The Unstoppable Maggie McGee.

The final £250,000 was raised through public donations.

Every element has been designed working collaboratively with families, from the pastel-coloured interior and the furniture, to the floor-to-ceiling windows that allow for lots of natural light.

Nicki Fitzmaurice, palliative care lead at Birmingham Children's Hospital, said: "The families we care for have wanted a space like Magnolia House for such a long time and thanks to hundreds of charitable donations we are delighted to now be able to offer an environment that gives parents a chance to process life-changing news, ensuring they are able to focus on being emotionally available to their child.

"Feedback from families was clear. It needed to be unlike any other area in the hospital, not smell or sound like a busy ward and have lots of natural light so they didn't feel like they were enclosed.

"We're proud to have created a setting that honours them."

Left to right: Sarah-Jane Marsh, Bryan Jackson, Dame Christine Braddock and Liz McKenzie at the opening of Magnolia House
Left to right: Sarah-Jane Marsh, Bryan Jackson, Dame Christine Braddock and Liz McKenzie at the opening of Magnolia House

Located in a central part of the hospital's site and named because of the trees found in its surrounding garden, Magnolia House has two private counselling rooms, a calming lounge, kitchen, dining area and a siblings play area.

There is also a private garden where families can sit and reflect.

Liz McKenzie, Wesleyan's chief operating officer and chairman of its charity advisory committee, added: "We have supported Birmingham Children's Hospital for the past four years and our legacy of creating Magnolia House is something we are very proud of.

"We hope it will help families when they need it most.

"The way our staff, customers and suppliers have thrown their energy, time and creativity behind this project and embraced the life-changing work the hospital does for children and their families, has been extraordinary."

Reflective garden at Magnolia House
Reflective garden at Magnolia House