2 September 2026
Transforming a bereavement suite at Royal Victoria Infirmary
Robertson Construction North East has transformed the Halcyon Bereavement Suite at Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust's Royal Victoria Infirmary through its community wealth building programme.
The project brought together Newcastle Hospitals Charity, specialist consultants, subcontractors and supply chain partners to refurbish and enhance the suite creating a more accessible, comfortable and self-contained environment for families experiencing the loss of a baby.
Robertson Construction North East led the project, with Operations Director Paul Inglis and Commercial Manager Emma Hedley overseeing delivery.
The refurbishment of the Suite was delivered as part of the Robertson commitment to social impact, related to work carried out for the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Completed projects include the Freeman Hospital Day Treatment Centre, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary and the Newcastle Diabetes Centre.
Improvements to the Halcyon Suite
The refurbishment included:
- A new wet room facility replacing the previous bathroom.
- A new sofa bed and furniture.
- Conversion of an adjoining office into a dedicated family room and kitchen area, providing additional space for relatives and visitors.
- Creation of an adjoining kitchen facility for staff and families.
- New electrical installations, flooring and decoration, including a feature wallpaper mural.
One of the most significant improvements was the creation of the new wet room. Previously, parents recovering from difficult births could be required to leave the suite to access suitable shower facilities elsewhere within the maternity unit. The refurbished space now allows families to remain together with access to the facilities they need throughout their stay.
The refurbished Halcyon Suite is now a fully self-contained space, offering improved privacy, comfort and accessibility for those using the facility.
Inspired by Experience
The refurbishment project was proposed following the experience of Robertson Construction North East Social Impact Manager Alasdair Hill and his partner Katie, whose son Arthur was stillborn in 2022.
The couple spent five days in the former Halcyon Suite, where they experienced first-hand the important role it plays in supporting bereaved families.
Alasdair said: “While we hope the Halcyon Suite is needed as little as possible, the reality is that too many families will sadly find themselves walking through its doors. Our hope is that the refurbished space will make an incredibly difficult time just a little more bearable.
“Families will no longer have to leave the suite to use shower facilities, avoiding the distress of passing newborn babies or hearing their cries in the corridors. Instead, they can remain together in a private, self-contained environment, with the space and facilities they need to spend precious time with their baby and begin to process their loss.”
The refurbished suite was officially opened in spring 2026 during a visit to the Royal Victoria Infirmary by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal.
The refurbishment has made a significant difference, creating a fully self-contained space with improved privacy, comfort and facilities that help families remain together throughout their stay at an incredibly difficult time.
We are sincerely grateful to Robertson Construction North East and its supply chain partners for delivering this work on a pro bono basis. Their generosity and commitment have created an environment that will make a lasting difference to bereaved families across our region.
Delivering Social Impact Through Partnership
The estimated project value was approximately £176,000 with Robertson and supply chain partners donating labour, materials, professional services and specialist expertise. Alasdair Hill’s partner Katie also fundraised for new crockery, kitchen accessories and furnishings throughout the suite.
The project was made possible through the collective efforts of Robertson and its supply chain partners, including Medical Architecture, DTA, Newcastle City, Hepacart, High Level, Woodtech, All Floors including Tarkett, Gradus, N Purdy including Tektura, Simon West, Laminform including Provan Installations, Solo Blinds, One Sign and Digital, Albany Furniture, Knightsbridge Furniture, Malones including Northern Ventilation, HVAC, Clean Sweep Group, Tyne Tees Thermal, North East Installations including Thorn / Electric Centre Newcastle East, Pyrocel, Demon Drillers, Norseal, Geoffrey Robinson Fire Stopping New Works and Mervyn Hogg Photographs.
Together, these organisations contributed their time, expertise, materials and services to create a facility that will continue to support bereaved families across the North East.
Images: Medical Architecture
