A COUNTRY house in East Lothian which offers much-needed respite breaks has celebrated its fifth year today [MON].
Leuchie House was established to deliver high quality short respite breaks for people and their families living with long-term physical conditions.
Situated near North Berwick, the eighteenth century mansion was originally owned by the Dalrymple family, who now live on a modern home within the walled garden on the estate.
From 1970 to 1998, the house was leased out by the family as a respite holiday home for people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
After the MS Society withdrew funding in 2010, a Save Leuchie Campaign was established, and it was established as an indepedent charity on July 4, 2011.
It offers respite to people with a wide range of neurological conditions, such as Parkinson's, motor neuron disease, cerebral palsy, stroke, and spinal injuries.
Since then it has delivered more than 30,000 respite days to its clients, offering social as well as health care in a "country house feel" rather than a clinical atmosphere.
Employing more than 80 members of staff, it also has an additional team of 80 active volunteers.
Their breaks include 24-hour nursing care, physiotherapy, in-house activities, daily outings and home-cooked meals.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the house was a "fine example of integrated health and social care".
Shona Robison MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing & Sport, said: "On my recent visit to Leuchie House, I was very impressed by the level of care needs that the team can manage.
"It is a great environment and they do a lot of activities and provide a very good quality respite opportunity, but I was struck by the high level of need that they can manage, which is not the case in many other respite places. I was very impressed."
To celebrate the anniversary, the charity has established a 'Thunderclap' campaign, which they say is "like an online flash mob".
At noon today a message will be posted at the same time on the Facebook pages and Twitter feeds of everyone who's pledge support, in order to target a huge online audience at the same time.
For more information, visit http://www.leuchiehouse.org.uk/ or visit the hashtag #shoutoutforLeuchiebreaks.
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