A campaign has been launched to refresh Talbot Butler ward at Northampton General Hospital after nursing staff approached The Lewis Foundation to see if it could help.
Setting the ball rolling at its annual Gala Ball last month, the charity held an auction with a difference – where, rather than asking guests to bid for items for themselves, they were invited to pledge to buy the likes of TVs, artwork and plants that will make the ward and garden a more pleasant environment for cancer patients and their families.
The Lewis Foundation already has close links with the hospital, delivering gift packs on a regular basis to both inpatients and outpatients containing anything from essentials like toiletries and underwear to sweet treats, magazines and puzzles. Northampton General is just one of the hospitals across Northamptonshire and neighbouring counties that benefit from the charity’s donations.
Lorraine Lewis from The Lewis Foundation said: “The hospital teams know us and the nurses on Talbot Butler ward made us aware that the place was starting to look a little bit tired and they wanted it to be a nicer environment for patients and their families.
“It’s things like nice pictures for the walls and televisions that patients don’t have to pay to use. There’s a garden associated with the ward and that is starting to look a bit tired and needs sprucing up.
“When my mother-in-law was going through her cancer journey we saw for ourselves how much difference it made to be in a pleasant environment and not have to worry about having the things you need, and that’s what led us to set up the charity.
“This is a little bit different but we were happy to help because when patients are going through one of the most difficult times of their lives, they don’t want to be worried about having to pay £7.50 a day just to watch television. Some patients are in hospital for weeks, maybe worried about the fact that they can’t work and their income is affected, and more than £50 a week to watch television is a real concern.”
With the annual Gala Ball coming up, and with the focus always on raising money for the gift packs that are at the heart of The Lewis Foundation’s work, the team decided that it would also be a good idea to use the charity auction to garner support for the Talbot Butler campaign.
The list of items required includes:
- 42” Smart TV with wall brackets
- Plants for the garden
- Table and chair set for the garden
- Two-in-one heater/fans
Among the larger items the nursing staff have flagged up as needing replacing are chemotherapy chairs and a sofa bed for the relative’s room with a wipeable cover for infection control purposes. The Lewis Foundation has also listed some new furniture for the staff room, so that the nurses have somewhere more comfortable to enjoy their tea and meal breaks. Northampton-based online retail firm Stephensons Online Limited is helping the charity find the items that are being pledged for the ward, and landscaping firm Rockleigh Limited has offered to help with the garden project.
The Gala Ball evening itself, held at Fawsley Hall, was a great success – the first time the event has sold out completely and with many new businesses and organisations joining the existing supporters.
“We were delighted with how well the Gala Ball went this year, and we’re very grateful to Fawsley Hall who supported us with the venue,” said Lorraine. “Rather than having an auction where people bought things for themselves, we asked them to buy items for the campaign, and in return, where it’s possible, we will put a plaque on the items with details of who donated them. The auction was successful and now we want to widen the campaign out and invite other local businesses to pledge donations to help buy the remaining items.
“Contributions to the higher priced items – the chemotherapy chairs cost £2,500 each, for instance – are also welcome if funding the whole cost of the chair is too much to ask.
“We want to try to make the Talbot Butler ward a little bit more pleasant for the patients and their families, and also for the staff who work there every day. The nicer the environment, the easier it is to get through what can be a long and difficult stay in hospital and sometimes it’s just something small, like a television to watch or nice pictures on the wall, that makes all the difference.
“If any business would like to contact us directly to discuss supporting the ward and garden, or making a donation, we’d be happy to talk them through what we need.”
Email hello@thelewisfoundation.co.uk or call 01604 245689 to discuss how you can support the campaign.
Find out more on The Lewis Foundation website.
