A major appeal to help those in West Norfolk has had a major boost.
The Friends of the Wisbech Hospitals charity is donating £10,000 to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital’s Dementia Care Appeal, which aims to improve the experience of patients with the condition.
The money will help large touch screens which help patients listen to music or poetry, or take part in interactive games which trigger memories which help improve health and wellbeing.
It will also help fund specially created activity packs which includes games, reminiscence cards and jigsaw puzzles.
Malcolm Bruce, Chairman at The Friends of the Wisbech Hospitals, said:
“Myself and my fellow Trustees are acutely aware of the close relationship North Cambs Hospital has with QEH.”
“Consequently, I and the Friends’ officers are pleased to support the Dementia Care Appeal. QEH has always been regarded as North Cambs sister hospital, certainly since the early 1970’s.”
“When I was employed at North Cambs in 1978 my contract was with the King’s Lynn and Wisbech Hospitals, and one of the Units I managed in Wisbech was a 40 bedded unit for people with Dementia.”
“Many of the Friends have personal experience of loved ones having Dementia. The Friends are about to embark on helping with the re development of the North Cambs site to the tune of about £250,000 so we felt a donation to the QEH project appropriate”.
Professor Steve Barnett, Chairman at QEH, said: “We are extremely grateful to The Friends of the Wisbech Hospitals for their generosity, support, and commitment to the Trust. This donation will make an enormous difference to the wellbeing of our patients living with dementia.”
Caroline Shaw CBE, Chief Executive at QEH, said: “We are very lucky to have a fantastic local community who have supported this important fundraising appeal which has enabled us to make significant improvements at QEH. Thanks to The Friends of the Wisbech Hospitals we have been able to purchase specialist equipment which will really make a difference to the care and wellbeing of our patients living with Dementia.”
To donate to the Dementia Care Appeal, visit justgiving.com/campaign/QEHDementiaCareAppeal or send a cheque payable to ‘Dementia Care Appeal’, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn, Gayton Road, King’s Lynn, PE30 4ET.