Morale boost for patients thanks to generous firm
Date of release: 3 May 2024
Patients having their cancer treatment at New Cross Hospital will receive a morale boost thanks to the support of a generous firm - prompted by a staff member’s “fantastic” care.
Staffordshire-based Inco Contracts has chosen The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust Charity as its charity of the year and has so far donated 1,000 care bags for chemotherapy patients and 500 water bottles to help those undergoing radiation treatment.
Tim Lewis, Senior Contracts Manager at Inco Contracts, said the company chose the Trust after the fantastic treatment he received following his bowel cancer diagnosis in 2022.
The 44-year-old from Albrighton underwent a two-year course of treatment that involved both chemotherapy and radiation treatment at New Cross Hospital.
He received the all-clear last year and has urged more people to make sure they go for a check-up if they spot anything out of the ordinary.
The father of two said: “I witnessed first-hand the boredom patients go through during their chemotherapy treatment. I saw a lot of elderly patients who had to sit in cubicles for hours with nothing to do. I really hope these care packages help.”
The hypoallergenic care bags include wet wipes, lavender oil, tissues, activity books, a handheld fan, lip balm, cream and a handcrafted heart.
Tim added: “The care I received was fantastic – the staff were all so friendly and caring.
“Cancer is something that touches pretty much every family in the UK and RWT does an excellent job in helping treat thousands of patients every year, giving many of them the opportunity to live longer and some to have full recoveries.
“We also wanted to donate 500 water bottles, thanks to funding from Lloyds Pharmacy, for radiology patients as again I saw the impact of delays when patients arrived for their scan pre-treatment without a full bladder.
“I also found radiology treatment incredibly lonely so any boost such as a care pack or water bottle would have helped lift my spirits – which I hope it does for others.”
The firm, which carries out industrial and commercial refurbishment schemes, has also announced plans to revamp the Deanesly Centre garden in the hospital.
Staff are planning more charity walks, sponsored cycles and a charity golf day.
Amanda Winwood, Charity Development Manager at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust Charity, said: “The Chemo Comfort Bags, the radiation bottles and any little extras or big projects that go above and beyond what the NHS provides have to be provided through fundraising, donations or companies giving up their time to help. That’s why support like this from Inco makes such a difference.
“We are proud to have been chosen as its charity of the year and look forward to working together to make a daily difference to our patients’ experience.”
ENDS
- For further information, please email amy.downward@nhs.net
