Wine bar to cheer up terminally ill in hospital in France

A French hospital will open a wine bar for its ailing terminally-ill patients to help them keep their spirits high, media reported.

The 'prescribed bar' would come up at the palliative care centre of Clermont-Ferrand University hospital in Puy-de-Dome in central France, The Local France reported Friday.

The bar would offer "medically supervised" wine tasting to patients, their friends and relatives.

The hospital claimed that the "medically supervised" wine tasting can serve to brighten up the otherwise difficult everyday lives of patients.

Virginie Guastella, the head of the hospital unit who proposed the idea, said the bar could help the patients and their loved ones to relax and converse.

"A situation can be palliative for several weeks or even several months and it is because life is so precious and real until the end that we decided to cultivate all that is fine and good," Guastella told The Local.

Guastella, while quoting a study by socio-anthropologist Catherine Legrand Sebille, said drinking and eating have a huge positive impact on patients lasting days.

A variety of alcoholic drinks that include fine wines, champagne and whisky would be on offer at the wine bar.

Staff at the hospital unit would be specially trained in how to deal with the needs of the patients.

"It is a way of rethinking the care of others, taking into account their feelings and emotions that make them a human being," Guastella added.