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The new spa at Ramside Hall hotel is set to become what it claims as the first wellness for cancer centre in the UK.
The Durham-based hotel, which recently opened its new spa as the final stage of its £16m redevelopment, said that it will offer a special programme of treatments for anyone dealing with or who has suffered from cancer.
The spa has become part of the international Wellness for Cancer organisation, with every member of staff now trained to provide services to anyone whose life has been affected by the disease.
During the training, all staff learnt about the disease and the importance of using ‘mindfulness’ elements – a technique which helps people deal with anxiety by “living in the moment”.
The therapists at Ramside also underwent the Wellness for Cancer’s training in massage, manicures and pedicures, while reception and reservation staff took part in training to ensure they speak “appropriately” to clients, both in-person and over the phone.
Jill Russell, spa director, said it was a “huge honour” to be the first in the UK to offer the service, adding that it’s “fantastic” that the North East is leading the way.
She said: “We are looking forward to working with Wellness for Cancer to provide what we really believe will be an invaluable service for so many people.
“Visiting a spa is such a relaxing experience, it’s the ideal environment for someone dealing with a life threatening condition, but unfortunately there has been far too many misconceptions surrounding cancer and massage within the industry with people often being turned away from spas.”
The £8m Spa at Ramside opened in August and offers five pools including one of the UK’s biggest hydrotherapy pools, 14 treatment rooms, a thermal suite, a Sleep Sanctuary and a Rasul mud chamber.
The service, which includes a number of special packages, is set to be launched on October 1, to coincide with Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
