Ablution room at York Hospital

6 AUGUST 2023

Thanks to your donations, we are delighted to have funded an ablution facility at York Hospital.

The room has been created by refurbishing an old doctor’s on-call room near the lift lobby at Junction 5 on the main corridor, chosen for its proximity to the prayer room in the chapel.

The space has been reconfigured to fit a large ablution room, which includes new sanitary appliances, fixtures and fittings, new finishes to walls, floors and ceilings, and full wheelchair accessibility.

Thanks to your donations and a grant from NHS Charity Together, the project, which has been in planning since 2015, has finally become possible.

Rachel Brook, Charity Manager, said “We are proud to have predominantly funded this vital project, thanks to the generosity of our donors and a grant from NHS Charities Together. We believe that the new ablution facility will make a significant difference to the lives of our colleagues and service users, providing them with a dedicated space to practice their faith while on site.”

Hassena Karbani has worked alongside the capital projects and Chaplaincy team since the start of the project. Hassena said: “I am delighted the ablution area is now complete. A dedicated ablution area in both our acute hospitals makes an essential difference to our colleagues and service users, enabling them to seamlessly fulfill their daily prayers on site.

“On behalf of the Race Equality Network, our staff and patients, I would like to express my gratitude to everyone involved in the process over the years and to the hospital charity for their funding. This is a great step in recognising the diversity of our workforce and promoting inclusion within the workplace.”

Jen Bennison, Capital Projects Manager, added: “It’s very rewarding to have completed this project which has been in planning for so long. Finding the right space was a huge challenge, and we must thank York and Scarborough Hospitals Charity for funding the project.”

The dedicated space for ablutions was officially opened in 2023 with a special visit from Imam Ammar, followed by prayers