Apartments for the relatives of people admitted to the Del Ponte Hospital

The building once provided accommodation for employees of the hospital. From next year, it will accommodate Del Ponte Hospital patients and their relatives, families involved in long treatments, who will be able to find a cheap and easy solution to staying close to their sick relative.

With this intention, the hospital in Varese signedan agreement with the “Ponte Del Sorriso” Foundation this morning, Tuesday 24 March; the building is going to be lent for use, for 25 years, in exchange for its renovation and management, for the purpose of social housing.

So, the work to create 10 bedsits, which will be made available, free of charge, to the relatives of patients, who will only have to pay the household expenses, is starting tomorrow in Via Lazio. The work is going to cost €600,000 in total, of which €270,000 is going to be donated by the Cariplo Foundation, who support social housing initiatives throughout the province. The remainder will come from the “Ponte Del Sorriso” Foundation, with social initiatives, a collection of funds and with proceeds from the “5 per mil” scheme, in which anyone that wishes to, can help by indicatingthe personal tax code 95069810125, on his or her tax declaration form.

For the hospital, this is a way of “capitalising” real estate that needed to be renovated, without using the funds intended to provide healthcare.

The chief executive, Callisto Bravi, emphasised the importance of providing accommodation, given the appeal of Varese hospitals. “The number of patients who come from far away is increasing,” Bravi explained, “and this is happening in all sectors, which is a sign that the healthcare is excellent, thanks above all to the many professionals that work here every day.”

Available data shows that at least 1200 families per year are potentially interested in the future provision, which will start by January 2016.

“The project, which has already been approved by the council, also includes a reception on the ground floor, where families will immediately be welcomed,” explained thePresident of the “Ponte del Sorriso” Foundation, Emanuela Crivellaro. “There will also be our office, and a series of standard services, such as a laundry and a games room. Our volunteers will be available to support the young patients, their parents and any brothers and sisters, in the experience, which can be difficult and delicate.”

And so, the Foundation created by a committee, which was formed, by chance, on the wish of 5 mothers, is getting ready to face a new experience: it is the volunteers who will be managing the social housing. “It’s a new challenge, which we accept, with a desire to improve the reception and stay of anyone coming into the hospital. A child that is welcomed, will be calmer if its relatives are supported in the small, everyday things. We know we can count on the support of the local people, who, last year,managed to increase donations to the maternity and infant hospital by 45%. It’s a sign that a good cause can overcome any crisis.”

Dr Massimo Agosti, the head of the Maternity and Infant Department is satisfied with this new development. “It’s another step towards a better reception, which began in 2003, with the inauguration of the ‘house of the nursing mother’ right beside the Del Ponte. At that time, it was all of the Lions Clubs in the area that wanted to create a space that was available for mothers that have to be close to their babies that have been admitted to intensive therapy. And so, the reception culture has returned to the Del Ponte.”

On request of the Cariplo Foundation, there will be some restrictions, particularly in terms of time. An apartment will be given for no more than one year, all household expenses must be paid by the families, who will have their linen cleaned every week.

“The ‘Casa del Sorriso’ (House of Smiles) shouldn’t be just accommodation, but a place where people will feel welcomed, where they can count on support and share the same experience with other families, so that they look to the future with a smile. But to make all of this possible, we need generous people to help us realise this important project,” President Crivellaro explained.