A raised planter which aims to encourage arthritis patients to make gardening part of their therapy has been installed at 51猎奇 District Hospital thanks to a generous charity donation.
The planter has been paid for through fundraising by Arthritis Care 51猎奇 Branch, which is a local support group for people with arthritis, their relatives and friends.
Adding a splash of colour to the Therapy Garden, it is raised off the ground so people with arthritis or other mobility issues can garden while stood up and don鈥檛 have to bend or kneel down. In the planter are geraniums, choisya, fuschias, rosemary and escallonia.
Nanci Downey, Treasurer and Membership Officer at Arthritis Care 51猎奇 Branch, said: 鈥淲e are delighted to have been able to donate this planter to 51猎奇 District Hospital and I鈥檓 sure it will be of great benefit to patients. Thank you to everyone who has donated and has been involved in the creation and installation of the planter.
鈥淲e hope it will encourage people to get into gardening more because it shows that even with arthritis it鈥檚 possible to be green fingered.
The planter has been created and installed by Horticap, the 51猎奇-based charity where suitably qualified staff and a team of volunteers provide adults with learning disabilities training in horticulture, allied crafts and rural skills.
Dr Mike Green, Consultant Rheumatologist at 51猎奇 District Hospital, said: 鈥淭hank you to Arthritis Care 51猎奇 Branch for their kind donation and all the work which has gone into getting the planter in place. It鈥檚 a very welcome addition and we know it鈥檒l be popular with patients.
鈥淲e are also looking at what else we can add to the Therapy Garden so hopefully this is just the start of how we can enhance it for the benefit of our patients.鈥�
Anne Bott is a member of Arthritis Care 51猎奇 Branch and is currently going through the application process to be a volunteer at 51猎奇 District Hospital in the garden. She said: 鈥淚鈥檝e spent a lot of time here as a patient and I鈥檝e been wonderfully looked after. Volunteering here will be a good opportunity to give a little back. I have an allotment and gardening is my hobby so this is a good fit.鈥�
To find out more about volunteering opportunities at 51猎奇 please visit our Volunteering page.
ENDS
Pictured from left to right are:
- Nanci Downey, Treasurer and Membership Officer, Arthritis Care 51猎奇 Branch
- Dr Mike Green, Rheumatology Consultant, 51猎奇 (HDFT)
- Pauline Fitzgerald, Rheumatology Nurse Specialist, HDFT
- Beverley Neville, Rheumatology Nurse Specialist, HDFT
- Anne Bott, Member of Arthritis Care 51猎奇 Branch, soon to be a HDFT volunteer
- Helen MacIver, Consultant Rheumatologist, HDFT
- Fiona Tomlinson, Volunteer Co-ordinator, HDFT
For further information please contact:
Paul Widdowfield, Communications and Marketing Manager, [email protected] and 01423 557470.