Restoring comfort, dignity and choice at St Giles Hospice with the Gemini MX Bath

For patients receiving palliative and end-of-life care, comfort, dignity and emotional wellbeing are just as important as clinical treatment. At St Giles Hospice in Whittington, Staffordshire, the introduction of the Gemini MX bath from Abacus Specialist Bathroom Solutions has transformed the bathing experience for patients on their Inpatient Unit, while also improving care provision and manual handling for staff. Supported by government capital funding announced for hospices in 2024, St Giles Hospice invested in a fully upgraded assisted bathing environment designed to provide comfort, relaxation and therapeutic benefits for people living with terminal illnesses. The result is far more than a specialist bathroom. It is a calm, welcoming and dignified space where patients can enjoy the simple pleasure of bathing again – something many had not experienced for months or even years.

About St Giles Hospice

St Giles Hospice provides specialist palliative and end of life care, free of charge, for people living with terminal illnesses, as well as proving support for their loved ones and carers. They care for patients across Staffordshire, North Birmingham and surrounding areas. The hospice offers a wide range of services, including care on their Inpatient Unit, community care, symptom management, bereavement support and complimentary therapies designed to improve quality of life. The organisation’s focus is centred on helping patients live as fully and comfortably as possible, while supporting their emotional and physical wellbeing. Like many hospices across the UK, St Giles continually seeks ways to improve patient comfort and create warm and inviting environments that feel less clinical and more homely. According to Alex Rogers, Occupational Therapist at St Giles Hospice, the opportunity to upgrade the hospice’s bathing facilities came at exactly the right time. “The government capital funding scheme gave us the opportunity to make some really meaningful improvements to the care environment here at St Giles. It allowed us to replace and upgrade a lot of our clinical equipment and invest in facilities that genuinely improve patients’ quality of life.”

The Challenge

Prior to the refurbishment, St Giles Hospice had one specialist bath, but it had been decommissioned several years earlier due to age and because it was no longer fit for purpose. As a result, patients had very limited options for personal care. Many patients were only able to shower while seated in a shower chair, while others – particularly those with advanced illness, reduced mobility or significant fatigue – often relied entirely on bed bathing. For patients who may have spent weeks or months being cared for in bed, the inability to enjoy a warm bath could have a significant impact on comfort, relaxation and emotional wellbeing. Alex explained: “For many of the patients we support, reduced mobility means they haven’t been able to use a bath at home for a very long time. Some people simply aren’t able to manage transfers safely, while others experience too much pain, fatigue or anxiety.” The hospice team wanted to create a bathing space that would be accessible for patients of all mobility levels while also supporting carers and reducing the physical demands associated with moving and handling.

Creating a Therapeutic Environment

Rather than simply replacing the old bath, St Giles Hospice wanted to create a complete bathing environment focused on comfort, dignity and relaxation. The refurbished bathroom was designed to feel welcoming and calming, helping patients feel less like they were in a clinical setting. Mood lighting and integrated speakers allow relaxing music to be played during bathing sessions, creating a soothing sensory experience that can help reduce anxiety and promote emotional wellbeing. Alex said: “We wanted to provide much more than just a bathroom. We wanted to create a space that felt relaxing, dignified and comforting for people at a very difficult stage in their lives.” The centrepiece of the room is the Gemini MX bath from Abacus Specialist Bathroom Solutions.

Why the award-winning Gemini MX?

The Gemini MX bath, winner of two industry awards, was selected because of its versatility, accessibility and ability to safely support both mobile and non-mobile patients. Designed specifically for assisted bathing environments, the Gemini MX combines ergonomic patient support with features that simplify transfers and improve moving and handling procedures for carers. For patients with limited mobility, the ability to use a ceiling track hoist directly with the bath platform significantly reduces the number of transfers required.

Alex explained: “For patients who have been in bed for a long time, we can use the ceiling track hoist to lower them directly onto the platform. The bath and water then raise around the platform, so there’s only one transfer in and one transfer out.” This streamlined process has made a considerable difference for both patients and staff. “With other systems, patients might have to go through multiple transfers, which can increase pain, fatigue and anxiety. The Gemini MX reduces that physical demand enormously.”

Transforming the Patient Experience

Since the installation of the Gemini MX bath, the hospice team has seen a significant positive impact on patients’ comfort and wellbeing. Warm water immersion offers a range of therapeutic benefits, particularly for people living with advanced illness, pain and restricted mobility.

Patients often experience:

• Relief from muscle tension and joint pain
• Reduced anxiety and stress
• Improved relaxation and sleep
• Enhanced feelings of dignity and independence
• A sense of normality and enjoyment
• Greater freedom of movement due to water buoyancy

Alex highlighted the emotional importance of bathing: “For somebody who may have been nursed in bed for weeks or months, being able to soak in a warm bath again can bring an incredible sense of joy and normality.” The buoyancy of the water can also help patients feel lighter and less restricted by their condition. “The water provides a feeling of weightlessness and freedom, especially for people with heavy limbs or limited mobility. Patients are often able to move more comfortably in the bath than they can elsewhere.” Importantly, the bathing experience can also support symptom management. Alex noted: “We’ve found that soaking in warm water can help relax muscles, ease joint pain and reduce discomfort. In some cases, it can even support pain management to the point where medication requirements may be reduced.”

Supporting Staff and Safer Moving & Handling

While the primary focus of the project was improving patient experience, the Gemini MX bath has also delivered major benefits for staff. Manual handling is a significant consideration in hospice environments, particularly when supporting patients with complex  mobility needs.

The Gemini MX’s height-adjustable design allows carers to work in safer and more comfortable positions, helping to reduce strain and minimise the risk of moving and handling injuries. The reduction in transfers has also simplified bathing procedures and improved efficiency for the care team.

Alex explained: “The height adjustability makes a huge difference for staff. It improves ergonomics and helps reduce the physical strain associated with bathing and transfers.” By improving both patient comfort and staff safety, the Gemini MX has become an important part of the hospice’s wider approach to person-centred care.

A Meaningful Investment in Quality of Life

At St Giles Hospice, the new bathing environment has become much more than a functional clinical facility. It represents comfort, dignity, choice and compassion. For patients living with life-limiting illness, opportunities to enjoy familiar experiences and moments of relaxation can have a profound emotional impact. The Gemini MX bath has enabled the hospice team to restore an experience many patients thought they had lost forever. Alex reflected: “Something as simple as having a bath again can mean so much to somebody at this stage of life.

It gives people comfort, helps them relax and restores a sense of dignity and independence.” Through thoughtful design, specialist equipment and a commitment to holistic care, St Giles Hospice has created an environment that truly supports the wellbeing of patients and carers alike. The Gemini MX bath continues to play a vital role in helping the hospice deliver compassionate, therapeutic and person-centred care every day.